BALTIMORE, Md., August 26, 2018 – The CCBC-Essex Knights Soccer Kickoff Classic finished up with a closely-contested matchup on Sunday, seeing the No. 3-ranked Monroe College men's soccer team hold on to take home a 3-2 victory over Harford Community College to wrap up the weekend. The Mustangs head home with a 2-0 record, while Harford leaves at 0-3.
 
The Mustangs ran into trouble early in the contest when Harford's Kevin Dietrich scored at the 4:11 mark to put the Fighting Owls ahead. Luca Erhardt later scored the equalizer for the Mustangs in the 26th minute off an assist from Caio Guazzelli, eventually sending the game to the half with a 1-1 stalemate.
 
10 minutes into the second half, Ronalda Da Silva redirected a pass from Tobias Pellio into the back of the net, pushing the Mustangs into the lead, 2-1. Pellio then netted one of his own, with an assist coming from Douglas McIndoe, to give Monroe a little more breathing room at 3-1 in the 73rd minute.
 
Harford then put a scare in the Mustangs when Raymond Kemousuor scored at the 86:15 mark to make it a one-goal game, but that proved to be the final shot the Fighting Owls took in the game, leaving the Mustangs up, 3-2, as the final buzzer sounded.
 
Mustang goalkeeper Chris Kaev picked up his first win for Monroe in the Mustang victory on Sunday. Harford netminder Mason Mulaney fell to 0-2 despite making 11 saves.
 
Pellio's two points led the way for Monroe in Sunday's conquest, including what proved to be the game-winning goal. Da Silva and Erhardt netted the other two scores, while Guazzelli and McIndoe provided an assist apiece.
 
The Mustangs held a significant advantage in shots, firing off 32 as compared to just two for the Fighting Owls. Monroe also held a 9-0 lead in corner kicks.
 
The Mustangs will play next on Sunday, Sept. 2, when they visit Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, R.I. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).