Final Score
New Haven (1-0-0) – 2
Monmouth (0-1-0) – 1
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth men's soccer opened the 2025 season with a strong second-half push but fell 2-1 to New Haven on Thursday night at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn.
 
The Hawks (0-1-0) controlled much of the possession, finishing with a 17-8 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Freshman forward Marcin Kluz made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, scoring in the 58^th minute to even the match at 1-1. The goal came off a corner setup from junior Jakob Friedman, who beautifully delivered a drive through the defense to find Kluz for the finish with his head.
 
New Haven (1-0-0) struck first just before halftime, with Lukian Lawro scoring in the 42^nd minute. After Monmouth pulled even, the Chargers answered quickly when Ryan Kipness scored in the 61^st minute for the eventual game-winner.
 
Despite the result, Monmouth dictated the pace of play in the second half, outshooting New Haven 14-3 after intermission. Friedman was a constant presence in the attack with three shots, two on target, while sophomore Victor Andersson added three shots of his own. Senior Sean Cadigan also generated chances, firing three shots as the Hawks pressed late for the equalizer.
 
Defensively, senior goalkeeper Otto Moosbrugger recorded three saves, including a key stop early in the match to keep Monmouth within striking distance. On the back line, Damian Taraska and Raul Garcia anchored a unit that limited New Haven to just three shots on goal in the run of play.
 
Notes
- Eight Hawks made their Monmouth debut.
- Kluz netted his first career goal.
- Friedman recorded his eighth assist and has three total in his last two season openers.
- Three shots is a career best for Cadigan.
- Jessy Bichler, Andrea Croce, and Raul Garcia each played all 90 minutes.
 
Numbers Crunch
- The Hawks had more possession of the ball, 59%-41%.
- Monmouth had more total shots, 17-8.
- MU landed more shots on goal, 6-5.
- The Hawks had more corner kicks, 7-2.
- New Haven blocked more shots, 7-0.
 
Up Next
The Hawks travel on the road to take on Fairfield at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 25. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.