MONMOUTH MEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW
 
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Niagara (2-13-2, 1-7-1 MAAC) at Monmouth (6-9-2, 3-5-1 MAAC)
All-Time Series: Monmouth leads, 5-0-1
Location: West Long Branch, NJ
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
ESPN3: http://es.pn/2xIg2o0
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2z73PfY
  
The Monmouth University men's soccer team will host MAAC opponent Niagara for the regular season finale on Wednesday. Both teams are eliminated from tournament contention, but the Hawks look to end the 2017 season with their second straight win. Senior goalkeeper Chris Seager made his first start of the season against Quinnipiac on Saturday, earning his first career win and shutout. Junior defender Luke Bromley scord the game-winning goal in the 71^st minute, heading home the corner from senior Jake Areman. Monmouth has earned a 5-1-1 record at home this season.
 
BREAKING DOWN THE NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES
Niagara has lost its last five games, including a 2-1 overtime loss against Fairfield on Saturday. The Purple Eagles have only won two games this season, one against Robert Morris in non-conference play and the other against Saint Peter's in conference play. Graduate defender Konrad Zydowicz leads the team with three goals and six points this season, while freshman midfielder Danilo Pekovic leads the team with two assists. Both Steve Casey and Joel Gerberich have seen action in net this season, with Casey registering a 1-9-2 overall record.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NIAGARA
Monmouth is undefeated against the Purple Eagles, registering a 5-0-1 all-time record. Last season in New York, Monmouth earned the 1-0 win after scoring in the 10^th minute.  

YOU GET THE POINT
Twelve different Monmouth players have registered a point this season, led by Jake Areman (three goals, four assists), Colin Stripling (four goals, one assist), and John Antunes (two goals, three assists). Sophomore midfielder Geoffrey Schaefer increased his season total to five points after tallying a goal and an assist in the win over Iona on October 4.

SPREADING THE LOVE
Nine different Monmouth athletes have scored goals in 2017, including Colin Stripling, Jake Areman, Andy Martinez, Geoffrey Schaefer, Zachary Pereira, Anes Mrkulic, John Antunes, Luke Bromley, and Donovan Pollock.

SUPER STRIPLING
Redshirt senior Colin Stripling was the lone Monmouth student-athlete named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team, and he enjoys the honor for the second consecutive season. Battling through injury a season ago, Stripling scored four goals in 11 games while racking up 26 shots. He was named to the All-MAAC Second Team for those efforts, a year after being named to the All-MAAC First team after scoring six goals and dishing five assists in 2015. Before sustaining a season-ending injury in 2014, Stripling earned MAAC All-Rookie honors during his freshman year after starting 18 games. Stripling scored the game-winning diving header in the season-opening win over Georgia Southern on August 25, and was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week on September 25 after scoring two goals in the 3-1 win over Hartford.

NON-CONFERENCE CHALLENGES
The Hawks played an arduous non-conference slate in 2017, recording a 3-4-1 record after eight games. Monmouth played #14 West Virginia to a 0-0 draw on September 4 and fell to #25 UMass Lowell in the 89^th minute, 3-2. On September 26, the Columbia Lions entered the United Soccer Coaches Poll at #23, two weeks after the Hawks narrowly fell to them, 2-1. Monmouth also played tough road contests at College of Charleston and Georgia Southern, and defeated Hartford and Penn at home. The Hawks were defeated in overtime by 2014 College Cup semifinalist UMBC in West Long Branch on September 9 by a score of 2-1.

AMAZING AREMAN
Through the first 17 games of the season, senior Jake Areman leads the team with ten points on three goals and four assists. Areman scored the go-ahead goal against UMBC on September 9, and also scored Monmouth's first goal at #25 UMass Lowell on September 16 on a perfectly placed free kick. Joining the Hawks ahead of the 2016 season, Areman has started all 33 games, accumulating four goals and eight assists in that span.

HERE'S JOHNNY
After missing all of last season due to injury, redshirt freshman John Antunes has started 16 games for the Hawks in the midfield this season. Antunes consistently controls the middle of the field, and scored his first career tally against Hartford on September 20. The Fairfield, NJ native took the pass from teammate Santo Arena, dribbled down the middle of the field, and launched a rocket to right upper 90 to put the Hawks up 1-0. Antunes scored his second goal in the win over Iona on October 4.

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