WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Junior midfielder Ryan Clark (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) dished out three assists and George Quintano (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) scored two goals as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team coasted past Long Island, 4-0, in the Hawks’ Northeast Conference opener. With the win, the Hawks (7-2-0, 1-0-0 NEC) move to 24-2-7 in NEC home games in Head Coach Robert McCourt’s eight years. The Blackbirds fall to 2-5-2 (0-1-0 NEC).

Matt Jeffery (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) also scored his first-career goal, while Joseph Schmid (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West [Villanova]) added his second goal of the year. Andres Penfold (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) and Kevin Davis (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional [Loyola (Md.)]) also added assists. Junior goalkeeper Alex Blackburn (Natick, Mass./Natick) made two saves to complete his sixth shutout of the season.

Jeffery got the scoring started in the 22^nd minute, heading in a corner that Clark sent into the six-yard box. In the 25^th minute, Clark played the ball behind him to beat his defender in the midfield before dishing off to Schmid for the shot from inside the 18-yard box. Quintano completed the first-half scoring in the 42nd minute with a header off another Clark corner. Davis played the corner on one touch to Quintano who headed it into the net. Quintano capped the Hawks’ scoring, heading in a Penfold pass at the goal mouth in the 53^rd minute.

For the game, the Hawks outshot the Blackbirds, 13-6, while taking four corners to the Blackbirds’ one.

The Hawks return to NEC action Sunday, when they play host to Central Connecticut State University. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.  

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