WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Senior forward Francois “Paco” Navarro (Paris, France) scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team defeated Siena, 2-1, Saturday night on The Great Lawn. With the win, the Hawks move to 3-5-3 (2-0-1 MAAC) and hand Siena (5-5-0, 1-1-0 MAAC) its first conference loss.

 

In the 31^st minute, Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) played Navarro into the box with a beautiful thru ball. Navarro played forward to the goal line and crossed to Rubinstein, who flicked the ball on one touch through a helpless defender’s legs into the net.

 

Less than six minutes later, the Saints responded as James Beeston played a cross from the right sideline across the goal mouth to Matt Hemsley, who headed it back across to Ryan Tauss to tap it in from the right post.

 

In the final minute of the first half, the Hawks were awarded a free kick at the right sideline. Tomas Penfold (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) played the ball into the box, finding Navarro, who lined up the game winner in the center of the box. The Frenchman went low inside the right post for the score.

 

The Hawks did well to possess the ball for a significant portion of the second half. Both teams created scoring opportunities, but neither could score, giving Monmouth the 2-1 victory.

 

For the game, the Hawks outshot the Saints, 11-8, while Siena took a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, N.J./DePaul Catholic) improved to 2-0-1 on the season in net for the Hawks, making two saves. Siena’s Adam Myers made two saves in defeat.  

 

The Hawks return to MAAC action Wednesday, when they travel to intrastate foe Rider. Kickoff from Ben Cohen Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.