September 17, 2005

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Monmouth won its third straight match and stretched its unbeaten streak to four, topping visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology, 3-1, in non-conference men's soccer Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks, ranked 10 th in the latest NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Division I poll, took control quickly on Saturday, striking for scores at 2:50 and 7:45 .

Monmouth ( 3-2-1 ) added a third goal in the 73 rd minute for a commanding 3-0 advantage. However, the Hawks were denied their third straight shutout win when NJIT's Eddie Romero drove a penalty kick past Monmouth keeper Art Satterwhite with 1:30 left in the game.

NJIT ( 1-3-2 ) sustained its first regulation-length loss of the 2005 season. The Highlanders' previous losses came in the second overtime at Boston University in the season opener on September 1 and in the first overtime earlier this week at Iona .

Monmouth's first and third goals were scored by junior Steven Holloway, sandwiched around a goal by Rich Baker. Tom Gray collected assists on the first two goals, while Hugh MacDonald added an assist on the second goal and Kevin Hartwyk helped out on the third Hawks' tally.

Put back on its heels by Monmouth's two goals in the first eight minutes, NJIT avoided further damage in the opening half and trailed at the break, 2-0.

The Highlanders played their best soccer in the first 20 minutes of the second half, applying consistent pressure and getting perhaps their best chance when Sean Pyne's point-blank shot was turned away by Monmouth's Satterwhite in the 57 th minute.

"The first 20 minutes of the second half, we got a lot of chances and we're going to look to build on that," said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes. "We've had good stretches of 10, 15, 20 minutes in games. We need to sustain those stretches where we really put pressure on the other team."

Unable to pull to within a goal, NJIT saw the home team score its third goal, as Holloway capitalized with just under 18 minutes left, when the fatigued Highlander defense was unsuccessful on three clearing attempts inside the penalty area.

Even after falling behind, 3-0, the Highlanders continued to compete and they were rewarded with Romero's successful penalty kick. The sophomore has scored three of the team's six goals on the season.

"Any time you put the ball in the goal, there's value in that," said Lopes. "We need to do a better job of creating scoring chances in the flow of the game and that's something we will work on."

NJIT, which has played the last four matches away from home, can look forward to its longest stretch of home games this season. The Highlanders host Bucknell on Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30 pm in the first of three straight at home on Lubetkin Field. The Highlanders will be home for five of the next seven matches.