WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – In their first action in 498 days, the Monmouth University men defeated Manhattan College, 5-0, Thursday.
Five players scored for the Hawks, including senior Anes Mrkulic (Highlands, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s), sophomore Griffin Tomas (Seymour, Conn./Seymour), redshirt junior Alex Hajj (Wayne, Pa./YSC Academy), junior Liam McGregor (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) and junior Robin Oswald (Bavaria, Germany/Maristen-Gymnasium Furth).
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Sean Murray earned his fourth career shutout, stopping five shots.
“It felt really good for us to get a game at our home field after such a long layoff. The boys have been working really hard, and that hard work earned us our result today,” Monmouth head coach Robert McCourt said.
In the 19th minute, Monmouth earned a corner kick. Senior George Akampeke got a head on the initial ball, and Mrkulic eventually scored on a back-heel.
Tomas found space in the 63rd minute and gave Monmouth a 2-0 lead with a left-footed strike from well beyond the 18.
Less than five minutes later, Hajj dribbled up the middle and unleashed a rocket from 35 yards for a 3-0 advantage.
In the 81st minute, McGregor made it 4-0 with another tally from long range.
Oswald put the finishing touches on the win with a goal in the 86th minute. After a Manhattan hand ball, he quickly fired a shot that caught the visitors off guard.
Monmouth visits Iona College Sunday at 1 p.m.
