WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Tomas Penfold (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) blasted a shot high underneath the crossbar for the golden goal in the 91^st minute as the Monmouth University men’s soccer team defeated Villanova, 2-1, in overtime Wednesday night on The Great Lawn. With the win, the Hawks move to 1-2-1, while the Wildcats fall to 1-2-1.

 

Villanova took a 1-0 lead in the 32^nd minute. Hawks goalie Stephen Graziani (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) came out to try to break up a cross, but the Wildcats’ Adetomiwa Adewole was able to head it back to the middle of the box to Oscar Umar. Umar easily headed it over a Monmouth defender for the goal.

 

In the 43^rd minute, David Acuna Camacho (Heredia, Costa Rica/Costa Rica Youth National Team) played a ball from the midfield stripe into the box that took a high bounce over Villanova goalkeeper Andrew Weakly and into the net for the equalizer.

 

After a scoreless second half, the Hawks wasted little time scoring the golden goal. Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) stole the ball in the Hawks’ offensive zone and fed Edney Derrick (Kumasi, Ghana/KNUST University) down the sideline. Derrick got the ball to Francois “Paco” Navarro (Paris, France) in the box, before Navarro played it back to the top of the box to Penfold. On one touch, Penfold blasted a shot high underneath the crossbar to beat Weakly and end the game.

 

The Hawks dominated the game in terms of shots and corner kicks, taking advantages of 17-6 and 8-5, respectively. Graziani made one save in the win, while Weakly made five saves in defeat.  

 

The Hawks return to action Saturday night, when they travel to Boston University. Kickoff from Nickerson Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.