NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Monroe College men’s soccer team continued its outstanding start to the 2016 season with a 7-0 victory over Ocean County College in their home opener on Thursday. Sophomore Jorge Paez came in as a second-half reserve, and recorded his first career hat trick in the win.
Monroe got on the scoreboard just 15 minutes into action as sophomore captain Evan Finnegan stole the ball at midfield, outraced the defender down the left side, and curved the ball past the keeper to the far side. It was Finnegan’s second-straight game with a point after earning an assist versus Harcum.
Just over 24 minutes later, Felipe Hideki made the score 2-0, scoring an unassisted marker from inside the box. At the end of the half, Ben Mardones played a beautiful through-ball to Hideki for the freshman’s second goal of the game. Monroe led 3-0 at the break.
The second half displayed the depth of the Mustangs bench, with 18 reserves seeing action. Jorge Paez found the back of the net just 40 seconds into the half, off a chip from Dauda Kenneh. Just past the hour mark, the score went to 5-0. This time, Kenneh was on the receiving end from his classmate, Tomasso Vitale, who earned his first of two assists in the game. Paez got his second goal off a ball played by Jamal Manley West. West stole it from the defender, went down the right side and played it into the penalty area, where Paez played a quality back-heel into the net. His third goal came from a blast that was outside the 18-yard box off a feed from Vitale.
The team improved to 4-0 with the win. They will return to action on Saturday, September 10th, against the unbeaten Mercer County College in Trenton, New Jersey. The kickoff is slated for 2:00 PM.
