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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Soccer Returns Home, Faces Monmouth Thursday Night
September 26, 2007 | Men's Soccer
The hard-luck Princeton men's soccer team returns to Powers Field for the first of three straight home games, beginning Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. when the Tigers meet Monmouth for the first time since the 2001 season.
The Tigers (0-6) scored three times against Seton Hall last Monday, including twice late in the second half to tie the game, only to lose 4-3 when the Pirates scored on a stunning blast from midfield. Princeton then outshot No. 24 California 19-9 on Sunday at the Stanford Nike Invitational, only to have a late goal disallowed by an offside ruling in a 2-1 loss to the Bears.
Freshman Teddy Schneider scored goals against both Cal and Stanford at the Nike Invitational, while classmate Brandon Busch had a goal and an assist at Seton Hall. Five freshmen started both of Princeton's games in California, including the first two starts of the season for goalkeeper Sean Lynch.
Monmouth (4-2-1) saw a four-game unbeaten streak come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Iona at home on Saturday. The Hawks' only other loss besides that one came to now top-ranked Wake Forest Sept. 2, two days after the Hawks had defeated then No. 16 North Carolina in their season opener in Chapel Hill.
The Hawks are ranked No. 4 in the NSCAA's North Atlantic region. Tom Gray and Damon Wilson have combined to score seven of their team's nine goals, and Monmouth as a team has allowed just five goals in seven games.
Dan Cummins and Kyle McHugh also scored their first goals of the season in the second half against Seton Hall to help Princeton make a comeback in that game. All six of Princeton's goals this season have come after halftime.
Lynch played all 180 minutes in goal for Princeton in California. He had five saves against Stanford and two more against Cal.
Princeton will play another Northeast Conference opponent, Fairleigh Dickinson, here on Sunday before concluding the three-game home stretch with Adelphi next Wednesday night. The Tigers' 2007 Ivy League schedule begins next Saturday night at Brown.
Monmouth has played five of its first seven games at home this season. After tonight's game, the Hawks will play their next four games at home beginning with a game against NJIT next Tuesday.