TOWSON, Md. – Junior forward Jacob Rubinstein (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean) scored the game-winning goal in the 73^rd minute as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team opened the 2012 season with a 1-0 victory over Towson, Friday afternoon at Tiger Soccer Complex. With the win, the Hawks improve to 1-0-0, while the Tigers fall to 0-1-0.

Rubinstein got on the end of a Francois “Paco” Navarro (Paris, France/William Carey) corner kick to put the Hawks on top in the 73^rd minute. Monmouth had dominated play leading up to the goal, outshooting the Tigers, 15-6, while taking a 5-1 edge in corners prior to the successful set piece.

Alex Blackburn (Natick, Mass./Natick) made four saves in net and the Hawks’ defense picked up where it left off last year, when it compiled 13 shutouts and had a .590 shutout percentage, fifth-best in the nation. Blackburn’s counterpart in net, Felix Petermann, also made four saves in defeat.

For the game, the Hawks outshot the Tigers, 17-9, and took a 6-4 edge in corners.
 

The Hawks return to West Long Branch for their home opener, Monday night against Providence. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. under the lights on The Great Lawn.