(2OT)
Howard Bison (0-0-1) – 3
Monmouth Hawks (0-0-1) - 3
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Behind two penalty kick goals from junior Luke McBeth (Glasgow, Scotland/Saint Ninians/Lindenwood), the Monmouth University men's soccer team battled back to earn a draw with Howard in the season opener, 3-3.
 
Senior Liam McGregor (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) opened up the scoring in the seventh minute, tapping in a low cross from sophomore Oliver Clausen (Assentoft, Denmark/Randers Statsskole/Muskegon CC).
 
Howard's Duncan Dunkwu scored three straight goals to give the Bison a 3-1 lead.
 
In the 62^nd minute, McBeth buried a penalty kick to the upper left corner to cut the deficit to 3-2. Just over 20 minutes later, he connected on another penalty, this time to the lower right side.
 
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Sean Murray (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made three saves in the draw.
 
Monmouth stands at 0-0-1 on the season, and will host St. Francis Brooklyn next Saturday.   
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Tonight was a scrappy, hard-fought college soccer game. Credit to Howard, as they came in and made it difficult for us. We are very tight as a team and we're eager to get back to training to work on some areas that need improvement." – Monmouth head coach Robert McCourt
 
-In the seventh minute, Clausen settled a ball on the left side, chipped it to the far post, and watched McGregor dive for the tap in goal.
-Howard answered in the 39^th minute, capitalizing on a miscommunication. Dunkwu gave Howard the lead less than four minutes later just before halftime.
-The Bison extended their lead to 3-1 in the 60^th minute after a scramble in the box.
-In the 62^nd minute, the Hawks cut the deficit to 3-2. After a foul in the box, McBeth sent a rocket to the upper left side.
-McBeth scored once again in the 83^rd minute after teammate Jonas Lindner was fouled inside the 18.
-Howard was handed a red card in the 98^th minute, and played a man down for the last 12 minutes.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-McGregor notched the sixth goal of his career. He scored three in the shortened 2020-21 campaign.
-McBeth's two goals were the first two of his Monmouth career.
-In his first career game with the Hawks, Clausen earned a start and dished an assist.
-Murray has 197 saves in his career.
-Freshmen Chris Morandi, Jonas Lyshoj, and Brett Sieg saw their first collegiate action.
-Sophomore Calum Ferguson played the last 65 minutes on the back line.
-Monmouth had an 18-12 advantage in shots, including 11-6 on goal.
-The Hawks had eight corner kicks to Howard's three.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will host St. Francis Brooklyn next Saturday at 7:00 PM. The Hawks trail the all-time series 16-14.