WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, N.J./DePaul Catholic) and the Hawks’ defense posted their fourth-straight clean sheet as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team played Fairfield to a scoreless tie, Saturday night at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn. With the tie, the Hawks are now 6-2-3 (2-0-2 MAAC), while the Stags move to 4-3-4 (1-1-2 MAAC). Klenofsky made three saves in the draw.

For the game, Fairfield took a 12-9 edge in shots. However, just three were on target and the Stags enjoyed their first shot on goal in the 71^st minute. Monmouth took a 12-1 edge in corner kicks, including a 6-0 advantage in the first half.

In the first half, the Hawks developed several solid chances. Dave Nigro (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) sent a shot on goal in the 22^nd minute, but it was punched aside by Fairfield keeper Matt Turner. Following the ensuing corner, Matt Jeffery (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) sent a header on target, but Turner again was there for the save.

Dom Sarle (Huntington, N.Y./Bradenton Prep) had a pair of shots on goal in the 31^st and 36^th minutes, but both were saved by Turner.

Ben Whitcomb and Ben Wignall hit shots high in the 49^th and 60^th minutes, respectively, before the Stags tested Klenofsky for the first time in the 71^st minute. The sophomore was equal to the task. Sarle again sent a shot on net in the 84^th minute, but Turner was there for the save. In the 88^th minute, Dan Pizzimenti (Manalapan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) sent a shot toward the net that was knocked down by a Stags defender inside the 18-yard box. The Hawks incredulously called for a hand ball to no avail.

Fairfield got the first chance in overtime, but Whitcomb’s shot was cleaned up by Klenofsky in the 93^rd minute. The Hawks sent a dangerous cross in front in the 95^th minute, but it was knocked wide out of bounds for a corner kick by the Stags. Two corners followed for Monmouth, but the score remained 0-0 after 100 minutes.

In the second overtime, Andrew Gee (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) had the Hawks’ best chance, but his header trickled wide of the right post in the 107^th minute. Wignall put a shot on net that Klenofsky easily secured in the 108^th minute. McCarthy and Wignall each had a shot in the final minutes, but they sailed wide and high, respectively, as the game ended in a scoreless draw.

Following an idle week, the Hawks return to action next Saturday, Oct. 18, when they travel to Quinnipiac for a rematch of last year’s MAAC Championship Game. Kickoff from the QU Soccer Field is slated for 3 p.m.   

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