WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Senior midfielder Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) scored twice as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team defeated Manhattan, 2-1, in the conference opener Tuesday night at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn. With the win, the Hawks improve to 2-4-2 (1-0-0 MAAC), while the Jaspers dip to 0-7-1 (0-1-0 MAAC). 

 

Stripling put the Hawks in front in the 5th minute, poking in the rebound of a Jake Areman (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) penalty kick on which Jaspers goalkeeper Connor Hayes made the initial save. The senior pushed the Hawks’ lead to 2-0, depositing a shot to the right upper 90 from atop the 18-yard box off a David Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) feed from the right.

 

Manhattan cut the deficit in half on a penalty kick from Joe Hulme in the 74th minute, but could draw no closer. 

 

QUOTES & NOTES

“It’s nice to get three points in the conference, no matter how they come. Our goal is to get a good 90 minutes, instead of a good 45 or 50 minutes. But we’re fighting some adversity with sickness and injury so I have to give the guys a lot of credit that they went out there and got the three points.”

 

“Colin has been absolutely fantastic all season. He’s been one of the guys that’s kind of carrying us. He’s the heart and soul of the team, so I’m not surprised. He earns everything that he gets. Hopefully he can keep building on it, too.” – Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt

 

 

- Stripling’s goals were the third and fourth of the season, giving him the team lead. They also were the 10th and 11th of his career.

- Monmouth senior goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) returned to the field following a month absence due to injury. Klenofsky earned the 32nd victory of his career, moving to within six of the MAAC’s all-time record of 38 wins, held by Nils Binstock of Iona.  

- The Hawks are now 3-0-1 in MAAC openers since joining the league, including wins in three straight. 

- Monmouth extended its lead in the all-time series over Manhattan to 8-1-2. Since joining the MAAC, the Hawks own a 4-0-2 advantage against the Jaspers.

- Over the past four years, Monmouth is 32-9-15 in games started by Klenofsky and 2-9-2 when someone else starts in goal. 

- Monmouth is now 2-1-1 this season when scoring first.

- Two Hawks – freshman back Andy Martinez (Paterson, NJ/St. Benedict’s) and sophomore midfielder Anderson Asiedu (Hoboken, NJ/St. Benedict’s) have played every minute this season for Monmouth. 

 

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

- Monmouth owned a 17-7 edge in shots and a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Eight of the Hawks’ shots were on goal, while two Jaspers shots were on target. 

- Though Manhattan was whistled for 10 fouls to the Hawks’ six, Monmouth was cautioned twice to just one yellow card against the Jaspers.

- Stripling got off a team-high five shots, including three on target. 

- Both of Areman’s two shots were on target.

- Nigro and Zachary Pereira (Rahway, NJ/St. Benedict’s) each accounted for three shots, one each on goal. 

- Klenofsky made one save in net, while his counterpart, Hayes, made six stops in defeat.

 

UP NEXT

The Hawks return to MAAC play Saturday, when they travel to hOURglass rival Saint Peter’s. Kickoff from Jaroschak Field is slated for 2 p.m.