Monmouth (2-4-1) – 2
#25 UMass Lowell (4-1-1) –  3
 
Lowell, MA – After the Monmouth University men's soccer team scored two goals in five minutes to tie the game at 2-2, #25 UMass Lowell netted the game-winner in the 87^th minute to defeat the Hawks on Saturday night, 3-2. UMass Lowell's Jakov Basic scored the first two goals of the game inside the left post to give the River Hawks the 2-0 lead. Moments after Basic's second goal, Monmouth senior Jake Areman placed a free kick inside the left post from 30 yards out to cut the deficit in half, and freshman Anes Mrkulic scored his first career goal four minutes later to tie it up as he poked it under the goalkeeper. Fellow freshman Santo Arena earned his first career assist on the play, passing the ball ahead while falling down. In the 87^th minute, the River Hawks scored the game-winner, as the ball slowly rolled in after bouncing off multiple players on each side. Monmouth falls to 2-4-1 on the season, and will play one last non-conference game against Hartford on Tuesday before beginning MAAC play.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"We didn't get the result we wanted, but tonight was another amazing night for our program. We always challenge ourselves by playing a really difficult non-conference schedule. UMass Lowell is a fantastic program, who is a physically and mentally mature team with a lot of talent. We came back and at times really looked like we might get the win. We can take a lot from this experience and continue to build with this new group." – Head Coach Rob McCourt
-In the 19^th minute, senior midfielder Jake Areman nearly gave the Hawks the lead after he chased down the Lowell keeper and forced a turnover. His shot was blocked out of bounds for a Monmouth corner.
-In the 35^th minute, UMass Lowell's Jakov Basic put the River Hawks up 1-0 with a blast from 35 yards out that found the left corner.
-After subbing into the game, freshman forward Anes Mrkulic was taken down right outside of the 18, but Areman's free kick sailed high.
-In the beginning of the second half, sophomore George Akampeke got a head on a Monmouth throw in, but UMass Lowell was able to clear.
-Basic scored his second goal of the game for UMass Lowell in the 56^th minute, this time on a free kick from just outside the 18.
-Just four minutes later, Areman's perfectly placed free kick found the back of the net to cut the deficit in half.
-Five minutes after Areman's goal, Arena gathered the UMass Lowell turnover and passed it ahead as he was falling down to Mrkulic, who poked it into the net just before the River Hawks keeper could get there.
-Freshman Jake Treiber made his collegiate debut for Monmouth in the 72^nd minute.
-Monmouth got two chances in the last 10 minutes, as Donovan Pollock and Zachary Pereira registered shots in deep. Pereira got a head on the corner kick after Antunes dribbled down the field and dished it to Frisch-Harmon who shot it off a Lowell player.
-UMass Lowell's goal with three minutes to play put it in front, 3-2, after the ball deflected off multiple players on both sides.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Areman's goal was his second of the season, and he now leads the team with six points.
-The freshman connection tied the game for Monmouth in the 65^th minute. Arena dished his first career assist to Mrkulic, who scored his first career goal.
-Sophomore Ryan Wells started his second game of the season on the back line.
-Freshman Dan Frisch-Harmon made his fifth straight start.
-Senior Joey Gudzak made his 42^nd career start for Monmouth.
-Edwards stopped three shots on the night, and now has 28 saves on the season.
-The Hawks racked up nine shots in the game, including six in the second half.

UP NEXT
Monmouth will return home for a 7:00 PM match with Hartford on Tuesday that will be aired on ESPN3. The Hawks own a 1-2-1 all-time record against Hartford.