FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 0 (0-0-1)
Temple 0 (0-0-1)
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Eryk Dymora made two saves as the Monmouth University men's soccer team battled to 0-0 draw with Temple University in the season opener on Thursday night. 
 
The Hawks outshot the Owls 8-3 in the first half but neither team was able to find the back of the net. 
 
The two teams continued to apply pressure in the second half of the contest. In the final 10 minutes of the match, both teams had solid chances. The Owls had a goal waved off after an offsides call and Dymora turned away another shot. The Hawks fired off three close chances in that stretch but two went high and Ben Zakowski's shot was just wide.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"We are happy to get the season going again. The game was quite scrappy for both teams at times. We created some solid goal scoring chances. There are some positives from this game that we can build on."
 – Monmouth Men's Soccer Head Coach Rob McCourt
 
- It was the first ever meeting between the Hawks and Owls on the soccer pitch.  
- The Hawks moved to 2-1-2 in their last five season openers. 
- Freshman Carl Valgma earned the start in his first collegiate appearance. 
- Juniors Erik Reis and Kevin Zapata and sophomore Jakob Friedman also earned the start in their first contest as a Hawk.
- Eryk Dymora's shutout was his first of the season and seventh of his career.  
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth held a 13-10 advantage in shots in the contest. The Hawks put three shots on goal to Temple's two. 
- The Owls had an 8-6 edge in corner kicks after recording six in the second half. 
- Flannan Riley made three saves for Temple while Eryk Dymora had two stops for the Hawks.
- Ben Zakowski led all players with four shots in the game. 

UP NEXT
-The Hawks are back in action on Monday, August 28 when they host LIU at 7 p.m.