NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Senior forward David Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) headed in the game-winning goal in the 10th minute off a Miguel Alves (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict’s) cross as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team earned its fourth win in five games, 1-0, at Niagara on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Hawks improve to 4-5-2 (3-1-0 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles slip to 2-8-1 (1-3-0 MAAC). 

 

Monmouth senior goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) and the Monmouth defense posted their second-consecutive clean sheet. The senior keeper stopped four shots in the shutout. 

 

QUOTES & NOTES

“It was a great team effort on the road. Nigro scored a nice goal off of a great pass by Alves. The boys worked tremendously hard for 90 minutes and really earned the three points.” – Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt

 

- Monmouth has now won four of its last five games, including three of four MAAC contests to keep pace atop the current league standings with nine points. 

- The goal was the fourth of the year for Nigro and the 17th of his career. Nigro’s single-season high is five goals, established in 2014 and matched last season. His four goals, four assists and 12 points are all team highs so far this season.

- The clean sheet was the second of the season for Klenofsky and the 30th of his career. 

- The assist was the first of the year for Alves and the fifth of his career after dishing out one assist as a sophomore and three more last year as a junior.

- Over the past four years, Monmouth is 34-10-15 in games started by Klenofsky and 2-9-2 when someone else starts in goal. 

- Klenofsky earned the 34th victory of his career, moving to within four of the MAAC’s all-time record of 38 wins, held by Nils Binstock of Iona.  

- Monmouth took a 5-0-1 lead in the all-time series with Niagara.

- Monmouth is now 4-1-1 this season when scoring first.

 

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

- Monmouth enjoyed a 14-12 edge in shots, including a 5-4 margin in shots on goal. The Hawks got off one more shot than the Purple Eagles in each of the two halves. 

- The Hawks also took a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks. 

- Klenofsky made four saves in the clean sheet, Monmouth’s third of the year. Niagara’s Steve Casey also made four saves.

- Whistles were few and far between on the afternoon. Just one caution was issued to Niagara’s Borna Juracic, while only 10 total fouls were called.  

- Nigro led the Hawks with three shots, all on target, while Jake Areman (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) also got off three shots. Anderson Asiedu (Hoboken, NJ/St. Benedict’s) and Brandon McCarthy (Ludlow, MA/South Kent) also took two shots each. 

 

UP NEXT

The Hawks return to MAAC play Wednesday, when they travel to Siena. Kickoff from Loudonville, N.Y., is slated for 3 p.m.