TEANECK, N.J. – Joseph Schmid (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley [Villanova]) scored in the 104^th minute to break a scoreless tie in double overtime and send the Monmouth University men’s soccer team past Garden State Northeast Conference rival Fairleigh Dickinson, 1-0, Friday night at University Stadium. With the win, the Hawks improve to 9-3-0 (3-1-0 NEC), and hand the Knights their first NEC loss of the season at 7-3-2 (3-1-1 NEC). The Hawks have now won six straight contests against their intrastate league rivals, and are unbeaten against FDU in their last eight matches (7-0-1).

“I’m extremely proud at the way the guys responded to today’s challenge,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “We created the better goal-scoring chances and we had the better possession, and I felt the result was justified.”

In the 104^th minute, junior midfielder Ryan Clark (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) sent a corner kick into the 18-yard box that was headed out by a Knights defender. Schmid collected the attempted clear and sent a shot through traffic and into the right-side upper 90 past the diving FDU goalkeeper for the golden goal.

“I thought Joseph was great all night and showed a lot of composure, finishing off the chance,” said McCourt.”

Monmouth, which entered the game fifth in the nation in shutout percentage (.636), completed its eighth clean sheet of the season to improve its percentage to .667. Monmouth goalkeeper Alex Blackburn (Natick, Mass./Natick) made four saves to earn his eighth shutout of the season.

The Hawks peppered FDU goalkeeper Jacob Lissek with 23 shots, including 10 on target. Lissek made the first nine saves, before the game-winning goal in double overtime. FDU countered with 13 shots, four of which were on goal. Monmouth attempted five corner kicks to the Knights’ two.

The Hawks return to action Sunday, when they travel to Fairfield, Conn., to take on Sacred Heart. Kickoff from Campus Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live video and live stats of Sunday’s game are available free of charge via the official athletics website of Sacred Heart University, www.sacredheartpioneers.com.   

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