WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J- Monmouth University's football team travels up to Fairfield, Conn. looking to earn its first win of the year when it faces Sacred Heart on Saturday at 1 p.m.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHUP...

Monmouth enters into the Sacred Heart game looking to avoid starting the season 0-5 for the second time in school history.

   Monmouth is looking for its first win after facing No. 12 Delaware on the road last weekend.  The Blue Hens downed the Hawks 42-7, scoring all of their points in the first half in front of 21,400 fans.  Delaware's No. 12 ranking marked the highest ranked team MU has ever faced.

   Before facing the Blue Hens, Monmouth had loss each of its games by seven points or less, including a three point last-minute loss to Robert Morris at home.  David Sinisi's consecutive touchdown streak sits at 16 straight games, as he continues to be an important part of the Hawk offense.  Defensively Monmouth is led by middle linebacker Matt Sterner who has 31 tackles.

   Sacred Heart comes into today's game with a 2-3 record after losing their NEC opener to Wagner last weekend.  The Pioneers are on a three game slide after starting the season with a pair of wins.

THE COACHING MATCHUP...

   KEVIN CALLAHAN is in his 15th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns an 85-58 career coaching record, all with Monmouth.  The only coach in Monmouth history has led the Blue & White to five Northeast Conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. He earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as a defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.

   Sacred Heart is led by fourth year head coach PAUL GORHAM.  After three seasons he owns an overall record of 14-22 and a Northeast Conference mark of 7-15. Gorham came to the Pioneers after spending five seasons as the recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Massachusetts, where he helped lead the program to a 10-3 record and a trip to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in 2003.  Before coaching at UMass, Gorham spent five seasons at Brown, serving as offensive coordinator.  While serving as O-coordinator with the Bears, Gorham helped produce three first-team All-Ivy League offensive lineman.  Before arriving at Brown, he spent six seasons at the University of New Haven as the recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach. Gorham is a 1984 graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he was an All-Yankee Conference tight end in 1983 for the Wildcats.

INSIDE THE MU-SACRED HEART SERIES...

   Monmouth owns an 8-4 series advantage against the Pioneers.  Last season the Hawks earned their first shutout of the year, blanking SHU 28-0 in West Long Branch.  The Hawks scored 24 points in the first half, with Dave Sinisi carrying the ball 18 times for 85 yards.  Boland had 118 yards and a TD pass to Shane Sharpley, while current MU QB Brett Burke was four-of-six for 35 yards.  MU has won four straight meetings, but the Pioneers took three in a row from 2000 to 2002.  The two teams first played on Sept. 25, 1993, with the Pioneers defeating the Hawks 12-0 at Kessler Field.

MONMOUTH AGAINST THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE...

   Today's game marks the second Northeast Conference contest of the year for MU. Monmouth owns a 46-29 (.613) record all-time against current members of the NEC.  While a member of the NEC, the past 11 seasons, the Hawks own a 45-26 record.  MU owns an 8-4 record against Sacred Heart, with Albany (4-5) and Robert Morris (6-7) being the only NEC team that the Hawks have a losing record against.  Monmouth's best winning percentage comes against St. Francis (Pa.), whom the Hawks are 12-2 all-time against.  Last season MU finished 6-1 in conference play. Head Coach Kevin Callahan has led the Hawks to a record-tying five Northeast Conference Championships, earning Co-Champion honors in 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2004 while taking winning the outright championship in 2006.  Monmouth  has never gone undefeated in the conference but has suffered just one loss in each of the those championship seasons.

Fans who can not make it to the game can watch for FREE on Sacred Heart's website.  Registration is required but it there is no cost to fans.  Click the following link to register http://media.sacredheart.edu/athletics/default.aspx?EventID=9 

DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS FIELD...

  Directions to Sacred Heart University can be found at http://sacredheartpioneers.cstv.com/facilities/saht-directions.html