PROVIDENCE, RI – 2014 NCAA Division I College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player Mac Steeves scored twice as Providence defeated the Monmouth University men’s soccer team, 2-0, Sunday afternoon at Treacy Track. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 0-2, while Providence is 2-0 on the strength of Steeves’ four goals this weekend.

“It was a tough weekend on the road against two very talented teams and I think we learned a lot about ourselves,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “I’m still encouraged by a lot of things we’re learning about the group and I still feel positive that we can have a fantastic season. We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend and we’ll just move forward.”

Providence got on the board in the sixth minute when Steeves volleyed a shot out of mid-air on one touch from the top of the 18-yard box inside the right post.

The Hawks got their first solid chance in the 14th minute, when Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) got a head on a long throw-in into the box, but it sailed just high and wide of the upper 90.

After Tiago Mendoca’s shot sailed just high of the crossbar in the 20th minute, Monmouth immediately countered. Dave Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) played Jalil Blalock (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) wide into the box, but the freshman’s low shot went just wide of the far post.

Providence padded its lead in the 49th minute as Julian Gressel rocketed a shot off the crossbar from 30 yards out. Steeves won the foot race into the box to head the rebound into the open net.

In the 83rd minute, Blalock, Stripling and Nigro connected passes in the box before Nigro’s shot was blocked for a corner. David Acuna Camacho’s (Heredia, Costa Rica/Costa Rica YNT) corner was curled perfectly to Stripling, who headed to the inside of the right post, but Friars goalkeeper Ben Seguljic made a highlight-reel diving save to rob Stripling. Miscommunication on the PC back line nearly led to an own goal a minute later, but a Friars back cleared the ball off the line.

For the game, PC took a 13-7 edge in shots and a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The Hawks return to action Friday, when they play host Hartford in Monmouth’s home opener. Kickoff from Hesse Field on The Great Lawn is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monmouth plays four-straight home games and five of its final six non-conference matches on Hesse Field.    
 

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