All-Time Series: MU, 7-1-2 (Last meeting: MU, 2-1 – Nov. 6, 2015)

Location: Hesse Field on The Great Lawn – West Long Branch, NJ

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Live Video: ESPN3

Live Stats: MonmouthHawks.com

The Monmouth University men's soccer team opens MAAC play Tuesday night on ESPN3, when the Hawks play host to Manhattan. Monmouth won its final non-conference game on Sept. 17 at Howard, earning a 1-0 clean sheet. The Jaspers have struggled early on this season, posting an 0-6-1 mark, including losses in their last two games to LIU Brooklyn and Central Connecticut.  

The Jaspers' lone tie this season came in a scoreless draw at home against Fordham. Manhattan has scored just one goal this season, as Niels Kirch finished a Christoph Gums assist. Kirch is the Jaspers' top returning scorer from 2015, when he tallied three goals. Troy Carrington also added two goals and two assists in 2015, while Ajani Phillips had a goal and two assists. No other returning Jasper had more than one goal or one assist. Connor Hayes has seen the majority of time in net this season, posting a 2.11 goals-against average and a .542 save percentage.

Monmouth owns a 7-1-2 edge in the all-time series with Manhattan, including a pair of dramatic one-goal victories last season. David Acuña Camacho scored on a free kick in the 87th minute in the MAAC Championship Quarterfinals to give Monmouth a 2-1 win. Earlier in the season, Andrew Gee finished a beautiful cross from Anderson Asiedu for the golden goal in the 108th minute as the Hawks came away with another 2-1 victory. Since joining the MAAC in 2013, Monmouth owns a 3-0-2 mark against the Jaspers.

Michael Luke scored his first career goal for the game winner at Howard on Sept. 17. Luke followed in his brother, Derek's, footsteps, as the elder Luke's first career goal also came as a game-winner in a 1-0 victory (Sept. 22, 2011 at Columbia) early in his freshman year. 

David Nigro matched his career-best of five points in a single game on Sept. 14 vs. Columbia. The senior forward scored twice and added an assist, matching his output vs. UMass Lowell in the 2014 season opener. 

Junior midfielder Jake Areman, a Maryland transfer, scored his first goal as a Hawk and added an assist against Columbia on Sept. 14. The three-point output matched Areman's one-goal, one-assist effort for the Terps last season in a victory over St. John's. 

Sophomore holding center midfielder Anderson Asiedu and freshman back Andy Martinez have yet to leave the field thus far in 2016. Both players have accounted for 670 minutes played in seven games.

Freshman Geoffrey Schaefer responded well to increased playing time, developing several offensive chances and assisting on David Nigro's goal at UMBC on Sept. 10 for his first collegiate point.

Sophomore forward Jalil Blalock, whose signature goal celebration is a back flip, scored his first goal of the season on Sept. 1 at Hartford. Blalock received a feed from Dave Nigro in the middle of the 18-yard box and went inside the right post for the score, his third-career goal.  

Colin Stripling led the Hawks with six goals a year ago and began this season in the same way. The senior midfielder deposited the ball in the back of the net on a penalty kick in the 37th minute against Denver as the Hawks and Pioneers played to a 1-1 draw. He then added his second goal at UMBC, equalizing at 2-2 in the 54th minute.

A fixture in the national polls over the last several years, the Hawks were ranked No. 30 in the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 to earn a national ranking for the 11th straight season. The Hawks also received votes in the poll's second week. Monmouth reached a program-high of the No. 4 ranking in 2010.

Winners of two of the last three MAAC Regular Season Championships, Monmouth was selected by the league's coaches to win the title once again in 2016. In addition, five Hawks comprised the 11-member Preseason All-MAAC Team. Goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Anderson Asiedu, David Nigro, Zachary Pereira and Colin Stripling were also named among the top players in the league.     

Sophomore Anderson Asiedu was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, becoming the first sophomore and the 10th Hawk in Head Coach Robert McCourt's tenure to garner the honor. Asiedu joined Joseph Schmid (2013), Ryan Clark (2012), RJ Allen (2011), Max Hamilton (2011), Anthony Vazquez (2011), Ryan Kinne (2009, 2010), Bryan Meredith (2010), Chase Barbieri (2009) and Tom Gray (2007) among Monmouth players to earn the recognition.

Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt's teams have won nine conference regular season titles in his 12 years directing the program. Included in the Hawks' run of success are five conference tournament championships in the last 10 years and the accompanying NCAA Tournament berths.

Monmouth's 17-game unbeaten streak last season stood as the second-longest streak in the nation. Denver and Georgetown tied for the longest streak in the nation at 18 games, while Creighton and Stanford had their streaks snapped at 15 contests.  

1. Denver 18

Georgetown 18

2. Monmouth 17

3. Creighton 15

Stanford 15

4. Clemson 13

LIU Brooklyn 13

5. Wake Forest 12

  North Carolina 12

With the Hawks' 2-1 win in double overtime at Manhattan on Oct. 21, 2015, junior goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky moved into sole possession of second place all-time in the MAAC with 28 career victories in net. Klenofsky, who now stands at 31 career wins, moved past Niagara's John Fiutowski (2006-09) and only Iona's Nils Binstock (2006-09) remains ahead of the Hawks' junior goalkeeper with 38 career wins.    

Monmouth returns the scorers of 30 of their 41 goals from a year ago, led by leading scorer Colin Stripling (6). Stripling also had five assists to lead the team with 17 points. David Nigro and Miguel Alves also scored five goals apiece, while Zachary Pereira came on strong to score four goals from the back line. Danny Figarella and Andrew Gee chipped in with three goals each, while Anderson Asiedu and Jalil Blalock scored twice each. Along with Pereira, center back Joey Gudzak helped stabilize the Hawks' back line and 2015 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year Eric Klenofsky is back for his fourth season as the last line of defense. 

Monmouth's newcomers include some exciting prospects, including Maryland transfer Jake Areman and 2015 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year John Antunes. The back line lost Derek Luke, but brings a familiar look in Luke's brother, Michael, who will fill Derek's role. Fellow freshman Andy Martinez also looks to fill a pivotal role as a center back. Jacob Curtis, Colin Muller, Geoffrey Schaefer and Ryan Wells will also vie for minutes in their first year in the Blue & White.