PHILADELPHIA – A spectacular corner kick connection between seniors
Ben Stitz and
Isaac McGinnis in the 10th minute held up as the lone goal of the match as the University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team ground out a physical, 1-0 win over reigning MAAC champion Monmouth on Saturday night at Rhodes Field.
Quaker Notemeal
*McGinnis' goal was Penn's lone shot on goal of the match. Senior
Dane Jacomen stopped all five of Monmouth's on-target attempts.
*Jacomen's clean sheet was his first of the season and the seventh of his collegiate career. His goals-against average dropped to 1.25.
*Penn improved its home record to 3-1-1 this season, and to 11-4-5 under head coach
Brian Gill.
How It Happened
The Quakers took full advantage of their first corner kick of the game as Stitz placed the corner just in front of the six-yard box for McGinnis, who headed the ball home just over the gloves of Monmouth goalkeeper Sean Murray.
Despite a combined seven corners, the teams managed just one more shot on goal the rest of the first half, as Jacomen stopped an attempt from George Akampeke in the 44th minute.
Both teams had near-misses in the second half. In the 71st minute, Monmouth's Luke McBeth fired a left-footed rocket off the crossbar from 19 yards out. In the 80th minute, senior
Matt Leigh missed inches to the right on a left-footed chance from 13 yards out that would have all but iced the match.
In the 86th minute, Jacomen just managed to get his left hand on a Liam McGregor shot from right outside the six-yard box, keeping the Quakers in front. The Hawks had one final opportunity on a 30-yard free kick in the final minute, but Bastian Hatcher's shot sailed harmlessly into the outstretched arms of Jacomen.
Up Next
Penn welcomes Cornell to Rhodes Field next Saturday for the first Ivy League match for either team since November 16, 2019. Start time is slated for 5 p.m.
#FightOnPenn
