FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 2 (4-0-4, 1-0-2 CAA)
No. 12 Hofstra 1 (6-1-1, 2-1-0 CAA)
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Sean Cadigan's second half goal proved to be the difference maker as the Monmouth University men's soccer team battled for a 2-1 upset win of No. 12 Hofstra University on Saturday night in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play. 
 
It was Monmouth's first win over a ranked team since 2011.
 
The first half was a back-and-forth battle that saw the Pride and Hawks each have their chances. Eryk Dymora made two big stops in the first 26 minutes of the match to keep Hofstra off the board. 
 
The Hawks broke through at 33:28 as Victor Andersson got the ball at the top of the box. Andersson found an open Bastian Hatcher in the middle of the box, and he tucked a shot into the left-hand corner of the net for a 1-0 Monmouth lead. 
 
Monmouth fired off three more shots in the period and carried the 1-0 lead into the halftime break. 
 
The Hawks applied the pressure to start the second half, but Filippo Dadone made a pair of nice saves. 
 
Monmouth extended its lead when it was awarded a corner kick in the 53rd minute. Erik Reis put the ball in play on the kick and his delivery to the near post was headed home by Cadigan. That gave the Hawks a 2-0 advantage. 
 
Both teams continued to battle and apply the pressure, but the Hawks maintained the 2-0 advantage until the final minute of play. Hofstra turned a free kick from Teddy Baker into a goal and cut the Monmouth lead to 2-1. 
 
However, the Hawks were able to ride out the final seconds and secured the victory.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"It was a fantastic night on the Great Lawn. We put in a full 90-minute shift and got the reward. CAA men's soccer is at an incredibly high level. Hofstra has set that bar high for all of us. It was great to get the result and now it's time to prep for our next CAA match."
 – Monmouth Men's Soccer Head Coach Robert McCourt 
 
- Monmouth secured its first win over a ranked team since the Hawks beat No. 16 William & Mary in 2011. 
- The Hawks secured their first ever win over Hofstra. The Pride lead the all-time series 6-1-1. 
- The win was head coach Robert McCourt's 195 on the Monmouth bench.
- The Hawks are unbeaten through their first eight matches this season. It's the first time since the 2009 team that the Hawks are unbeaten through eight. 
- Bastian Hatcher and Sean Cadigan each scored their first goal of the season for the Hawks. 
- Victor Andersson had his first career assist on Hatcher's goal.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Hofstra finished with a 14-13 edge in shots in the match. The Hawks put six shots on goal to Hofstra's four in the contest.
- Monmouth had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks in the match. 
- Eryk Dymora made three saves to pick up the win in goal for the Hawks.
- Filippo Dadone finished with four saves in the loss for Hofstra.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 28 when it travels to College of Charleston for a 1 p.m. match