Lehigh rolls to 2-0 win at Monmouth

September 1, 2014

MONMOUTH, N.J. – Second-half goals from juniors Austin Decker and Jamie Luchini led Lehigh to a 2-0 win at Monmouth Monday night. The Mountain Hawks didn’t allow a single Monmouth shot for the final 70 minutes of the game, as Lehigh shut down a Monmouth offense that scored five goals in its season-opening contest on Friday. Lehigh’s record improves to 2-0 for the first time since 2008.

“It was a concerted team effort from our forwards back to our defense to put pressure on Monmouth and limit their opportunities,” said head coach Dean Koski. “Monmouth has some pretty good pieces, but our back four and Danny Gonzalez did a really good job of limiting them. We knew Monmouth was a good team and they’re a defensive team, but we did a good job of putting some pressure on them and creating some opportunities for ourselves.”

Keeper Ciaran Nugent made the first save of his senior season less than two minutes into the contest as he stopped a shot from Monmouth’s Miguel Alves. The Hawks’ Dan Pizzimenti sent a header on net in the 20th minute, but Nugent was there once again for what would prove to be Monmouth’s final shot of the game. Lehigh fired off its first shot in the 24th minute when an attempt from Decker was thwarted by Monmouth keeper Eric Klenofsky. Lehigh remained in control and recorded two shots and a pair of corner kicks over the final 12 minutes of the half, but none found the back of the net as the teams headed into the half scoreless.

Just over ten minutes into the second half, Decker got his head on a cross from sophomore Gianfranco Giammatteo and sent the ball past Klenofsky to give Lehigh a 1-0 lead. The Mountain Hawk defense continued to shut down Monmouth before Luchini connected on a pass from freshman John Marc Charpentier in the 73rd minute to score his second goal of the season and extend Lehigh’s lead to 2-0.

The Mountain Hawks continued to pressure Monmouth, firing off three shots and four corner kicks over the final 17 minutes of play. The two goals would prove to be plenty as the Mountain Hawks walked away with their second win of the season.

Nugent made two saves to record his 15th career shutout. The Mountain Hawks held a dominant 10-2 shot advantage and 8-3 corner kick edge. Luchini tallied four of Lehigh’s shots, followed by Decker with three. Monmouth’s Klenofsky recorded four saves.

“Brian Vail was very good as our center back today,” said Koski. “Jamie was a handful, as was Doyle Tuvesson, who didn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. It was great to see Austin score his first goal since being back with us.”

The Mountain Hawks remain on the road Friday and travel to Stony Brook for a 7 p.m. contest.

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