WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Sophomore midfielder Andrew Gee (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) scored the game-winning goal in the 35th minute and junior goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) matched his career-high with seven saves as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team shut out Iona, 1-0, Wednesday night at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn. With the win, the Hawks (6-3-1, 2-0-0 MAAC) are now unbeaten in their last seven games, including four-straight wins. Iona falls to 5-4-1, (1-1-0 MAAC) with the loss. The shutout is the Hawks’ fifth of the season and the 26th of Klenofsky’s career. “I am happy with another conference win,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “Our young group continues to grow in maturity with each match. Games in conference are difficult. It was great to get another three points in the league.” Monmouth got the first shot on goal of the game as Miguel Alves (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict’s) made Iona goalkeeper Julian Petrello move for the save in the ninth minute following consecutive corner kicks. The teams exchanged shots that sailed high in the 15th and 16th minutes. Klenofsky made his first save of the game from point-blank range, denying Daniel Huertas from inside of 10 yards in the 25th minute. After Dave Nigro’s (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) shot just wide of the left upper 90 in the 30th minute, Klenofsky scooped up an easy save of Brendan Reardon’s shot in the 33rd minute. Monmouth broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) played John Egan (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) into the box. The senior then sent the ball low across the box to the left post, where Gee deflected it into the back of the net. In the 55th minute, Daniel Ocana Garcia sent a shot from 25 yards out that Klenofsky moved to his left to stop. But the play produced a rebound that Huertas was able to get to. However, Klenofsky made yet another save from close range to keep the clean sheet alive. Monmouth nearly added some insurance in the 64th minute, as David Acuña Camacho’s (Heredia, Costa Rica/Costa Rica YNT) corner kick found Zachary Pereira (Rahway, NJ/St. Benedict’s) 12 yards out. But the freshman’s shot was cleared off the line by an Iona back to keep the score 1-0. Klenofsky continued to be equal to whatever challenge Iona sent his way the rest of the match. He stopped a Huertas shot in the 72nd minute and a Carlos Bonilla shot in the 85th minute as the Hawks’ defense completed the shutout. The Hawks return to action Saturday, when they play host to Siena. Kickoff from Hesse Field on The Great Lawn is scheduled for 7 p.m.