WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ –
Jasen Bottini's first goal of the year powered the Monmouth University men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Drexel University in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) opener for both squads.
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Drexel held a 13-10 edge in shots but the Hawks made one of their four shots on goal count. Bottini now has three goals in two career matches against the Dragons.Â
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"I'm really happy with tonight's result," said head coach
Robert McCourt. "A really hard preseason, we had some good moments in our previous matches but not a full 90 minutes. Tonight, our guys showed their character and fought hard for a full match."
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Drexel applied the pressure early with a pair of shots in the first five minutes of the contest. Those two chances went just wide.Â
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The Dragons continued to pressure and registered the first five shots of the match.
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The Hawks had a golden opportunity in the 37th minute as
Brendan Tansey looked like he had the Drexel goalkeeper beat but the shot scooted just wide.
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Monmouth broke through for the goal in the 38th minute as the Hawks moved the ball across the field and found Bottini on the far side. The junior brought the ball into the box and fired home a shot into the corner of the net closest to the Hawks bench for a 1-0 lead.Â
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The Hawks carried that 1-0 advantage into the halftime break.
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Gallery: (8-29-2026) Men's Soccer v Drexel 8/29/26
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Monmouth tried to add to its lead in the 53rd minute but
Victor Andersson's shot was saved by the Drexel goalkeeper.
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Herman Johnsen came up with a big save for the Hawks at 76:46 to maintain the 1-0 advantage.Â
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Drexel got off four shots in the final 10 minutes of the contest, but they were blocked or went out wide.Â
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Rokas Jarusevicius put a shot on goal in the final 30 seconds of the match, but the Drexel keeper got a hand on it and Monmouth closed out the 1-0 win.Â
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Johnsen made one save for the Hawks to claim his first shutout of the season and third of his career. Raphael Bartell made three saves in the loss for Drexel.Â
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Monmouth moves to 2-0-2 in its last four contests against Drexel. The win snapped a streak of three straight ties in conference openers by the Hawks.Â
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Monmouth freshman
Eric Palei earned his first career start on defense. Fellow freshmen
Brady Orendac and Jarusevicius picked up their first career points with the assists on Bottini's goal.Â
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The Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 1 when they travel to Penn for a 7 p.m. match.
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