M Soccer 10.25.17
Sports

Men’s Soccer Splits Against Canisius and Fairfield

Men’s soccer defeated the St. Peter’s Peacocks on Saturday night at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn, extending their record to 5-8-2 on the season and 2-4-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Saturday night.

“All the credit goes to the guys tonight,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “We’ve been on the road a lot this year, so it’s always nice to have a home game in front of a great crowd.”

It took just four minutes for the match’s first goal to be scored. St. Peter’s freshman forward Dominic Laws thumped an effort from eighteen yards out into the back of the net to put the Peacocks in front.

McCourt praised the team’s ability to not let such an early opening goal get to them. He said, “When it gets into crunch time in these conference games, you just have to stay calm and good things are going to happen.”

Monmouth replied less than ten minutes later through sophomore forward Donovan Pollock. Redshirt senior midfielder Colin Stripling sent a pass across the box to Pollock, who equalized.

A few minutes before halftime, the Hawks were able to edge themselves in front. Freshman forward Anes Mrkulic was there to clean up a rebounded shot and finished inside of the left post.

In the 67th minute, Monmouth put the game to bed by adding a third goal to their tally. After a shot was blocked in the box, senior midfielder Jake Areman pounced on the loose ball and scored to make it 3-1.

“We created a bunch of chances tonight and scored three goals. It’s the most we’ve created all season, so we got a just reward I think,” said McCourt.

Monmouth is now 4-1-1 in home games this season.

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Monmouth men’s soccer travelled to Buffalo, NY to take on Canisius at the Demske Sports Complex.

In under a minute, the home side forced their way in front. The ball was launched into the box via a throw in, and freshman forward Filippo Tamburini headed the ball back towards the eighteen yard mark where junior midfielder Melvin Blair was waiting. Blair smacked a right-footed volley past Monmouth junior goalkeeper Bobby Edwards for his third goal of the season.

Canisius doubled their advantage just before halftime. Senior forward Eric Strauchen’s shot rang off the crossbar and landed directly onto the foot of junior forward Hunter Walsh, whose attempted first touch of the ball rolled it right into the empty net.

Monmouth saw their biggest chance to get on the scoreboard saved in the 76th minute. A long throw in into the box was headed on target by sophomore midfielder George Akampeke, but it lofted right into the keeper’s hands.

Blair was involved once again in a third goal for Canisius. The midfielder’s tricky dribbling got him past a Monmouth defender inside of the box, where he then took a shot at Edwards. The goalkeeper made a quick reaction save with his left foot, but it rebounded right off of freshman midfielder Santo Arena and into the back of the net for an own goal.

Canisius improved to 10-3-1 on the season and 4-1-1 in the MAAC with the 3-0 win over Monmouth.

Monmouth men’s soccer is in action Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. where they will be matching up against Fairfield on the road in Connecticut in yet another MAAC battle.

PHOTO COURTESY of Karlee Sell