Monmouth Spoils Princeton's Home Opener, 1-0

Saturday, September 8

Princeton, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

1-3

Monmouth

1-3-1

Monmouth

Princeton

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

September 08, 2018 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Princeton fell 1-0 to Monmouth in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 8 on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium thanks to a goal by Hawks' captain Zachary Pereira in the 84th minute.

The Tigers displayed a dominance over the in-state school, with a number of scoring opportunities and seven shots on goal but couldn't find a way to break goalie Sean Murray. In all Princeton outshot Monmouth 19-5 and took 10 corner kicks to Monmouth's one.

A lucky bounce gave Monmouth the win in the 84th when Pereira headed in a pass from Chris Scheuerman that took a hop and bounced up under the cross bar. It was the Hawk's only shot on goal of the game.

Princeton was more than unlucky after having a penalty kick called then rescinded in the 15th minute and then a "goal" waved off in the 57th minute due to an dangerous play.

Sophomore Gaby Paniagua had Princeton's first attempt when he headed a Danny Hampton corner kick on target. It was Hampton who was lined up for the penalty kick before officials called it off for a corner kick. Senior Sean McSherry had a great chance to convert after a forced turnover and he got through three defenders but Murray made the stop in the 40th minute.

The Tigers nearly made it 1-0 when freshman Moulay Hamza Kanzi Belghiti put the ball over the line on a cross from senior Benjamin Martin in the 55th, but it was waved off because of a high leg.

The Tigers kept pushing offensively when Paniagua fired a shot form the top on the box on a feed from McSherry in the 61st and Bryan Prudil followed up a minute later with a low roller from the right side. Just minutes later Princeton put together a beautiful play as Cole Morokhovich played a ball to Paniagua and then back, finding Martin at the top of the box who put a back heel on the ball to Kanzi Belghiti but Murray came out to collect the ball before Kanzi Belghiti could strike.