Monmouth Hawks (6-3-1) – 1
#2 Pittsburgh Panthers (14-3-0) - 6
 
GREENSBORO, NC – The Monmouth University men's soccer team's season came to a close on Sunday night, falling to #2 Pittsburgh in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 6-1.
 
The Panthers scored two goals in the first half and another four in the second half to advance to the Sweet 16.
 
Sophomore Julian Gomez (Fairview, NJ/St. Benedict's) scored for the seventh consecutive game, finding the back of the net on a penalty kick in the 77^th minute.
 
Sophomores Ben Zakowski (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) and Griffin Tomas (Seymour, CT/Seymour) each added a shot on goal in the loss.
 
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Sean Murray (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made two saves, ending his season with a total of 35.
 
Monmouth finishes the spring with a 6-3-1 record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2011.   
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Full credit to Pitt and their coaching staff. They have an outstanding program. Our players will be disappointed tonight, as they are true competitors, but it has been a fantastic run. Tonight, we just ran out of gas. When our players look back on this season they will be as proud of this season and me and my staff are of them. It really has been an amazing journey!"
 – Monmouth head coach Robert McCourt
 
"I couldn't be more proud of this group. We will build on this season and these experiences to make us even stronger in the future. They should be proud of the historic season they just rattled off in some of the most difficult circumstances." – Monmouth associate head coach Hugh MacDonald
 
-Monmouth earned some early chances, with Zakowski and Gomez each registering a shot on goal in the first 15 minutes.
-Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the 25^th minute. The Panthers played a long ball over the Monmouth defense, and forward Valentin Noel ran onto it and finished inside the far post.  
-In the 37^th minute, graduate Jonas Lindner played a cross that found the head of sophomore Nick Rogers inside the six, but the shot went just wide.
-Murray made a diving save in the 38^th minute on a bending free kick, but Pittsburgh scored on the ensuing corner kick to make it 2-0.
-The Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the 52^nd minute, as a ball entered a crowded box, hit the inside of the post, and trickled in.
-In the 57^th minute, Pittsburgh connected passes in the midfield, played a ball wide, and a cross deflected off a Monmouth player and into the net.
-Pittsburgh dribbled down the right side and played a through ball to the six-yard box, where Rodrigo Almeida found the back of the net to make it 5-0.
-Junior Robin Oswald was fouled in the box in the 77^th minute. Gomez buried the penalty kick to the left side to put Monmouth on the board.
-With less than three minutes to play, the Panthers scored a penalty kick of their own to seal the 6-1 win.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The Hawks advanced to the NCAA second round for the first time since 2011.  
-Gomez ends the spring season with a team-leading seven goals.  
-Zakowski led the team with six assists.
-MU won five straight games heading into the Pittsburgh matchup. All were on the road.
-Monmouth won its seventh conference tournament championship.
-The Hawks were awarded eight corner kicks, while Pittsburgh took five.