Rutgers University
2-2-1
Monmouth
2-3-1
MSOC and Monmouth Draw 0-0
Sep 16 | Men's Soccer
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Rutgers men's soccer team went to double overtime for the second-straight game and emerged with a 0-0 stalemate at Monmouth on Wednesday night at Hesse Field. The Scarlet Knights controlled the offense for most of the night, outshooting the Hawks, 18-8, and holding a 10-6 advantage in corner kicks. Redshirt senior JP Correa (Montville, N.J.) led RU with five shots.
With the scoreless tie, RU moved to 2-2-1 overall and the Hawks overall record went 2-3-1 on the season.
"I was happy with how our guys fought. Monmouth is disciplined and creates problems for you going forward. They have some weapons and can be very dangerous, but I thought we had some great chances and played some very good soccer," said head coach Dan Donigan. "Both teams played collectively as a group and it made for a good game."
RU's first look on net came after a barrage of corner attempts. On the Scarlet Knights' sixth corner kick coming in the 33rd minute of action, Drew Morgan (Atlanta, Ga.) headed the serve from Correa at the far post, but was denied by Hawk keeper Eric Klenofsky.
Klenofsky also came up with another big save to keep the Scarlet Knights off the scoreboard in the closing moments of the first frame. Mitchell Taintor (Storrs, Conn.) was blocked at the top of the 18, but RU managed to control the rebound setting up a blast from Correa 12-yards out from left side of the box, forcing Klenofsky to make a diving punch to keep the game scoreless at the intermission.
Jason Wright (Kingston, Jamaica), who had three shots on the night, also had a good look at the Monmouth net in the 59th minute. Taintor found Wright racing ahead of the Hawk defense. Although the play took Klenofsky off the line, he came out of the net to block Wright's shot from the left post.
Morgan added another shot on goal late in regulation. Off a restart from Mitch Lurie (Atlanta, Ga.) along the left side of the midfield, Morgan looked to put header from 12-yards out inside the left post. Klenofsky, however, made the save to force overtime.
Rutgers had two chances at a golden goal in the closing moments of the first overtime period. Brian Hawkins (Chesterfield, N.J.) sent a shot over the crossbar, while Miles Hackett (Montclair, N.J.) was blocked trying to find open space in the box.
Monmouth had two of its six shots in the second overtime period coming from Colin Stripling. His chip off a corner at the far post and a diving header both went wide of the Scarlet Knight goal.
Klenofsky, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and nation's leader in goals against average in 2013 and 2014, made four stops for the Hawks. RU's David Greczek (Fairfield, N.J.) denied two Monmouth shots on the night.
"I think the goals will come. We were just a little unfortunate," said Donigan. "We've got a little bit of a lull in our scoring output but if we continue to play the way we've been playing these last two games, I think the goals will come and that's when the W's will come."
The Rutgers men's soccer team returns to Big Ten action on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. at No. 22 Indiana. The game will air on BTN with Dean Linke and Chris Doran on the call.
KNIGHT NOTES:
- The Scarlet Knights played in its second straight overtime contest and is 0-1-1 following regulation.
- Rutgers moved to 1-1-1 in games played outside of the friendly confines of Yurcak Field.
- RU has outshot its opponent in three of the four games to date. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 15.0 shots per game.
- The Rutgers game at Penn on Oct. 13 will be streamed live on ESPN3.
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