NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., April 23, 2021 – The NJCAA's top-ranked team, the Monroe College Mustangs men's soccer team, continued to roll through the early part of its season on Friday, defeating its inter-campus counterparts, the Monroe College Express, by a score of 7-0 at Skidelsky Field. The Mustangs improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Express start their year at 0-1.
 
It did not take long for the Mustangs to get on the board, as Leon Sitz fired from the left wing and hit the back-right corner of the net in the second minute for a quick 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs doubled their lead in the 21st minute. Simon Gartmann was tripled teamed in the box, but he managed to narrowly squeeze out a cross to Ivan Silic, who buried the shot to the right of the keeper for his third score of the season, giving the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
 
Silic got on the board again in the 34th minute. Sitz set him up with a cross from the left wing, allowing him to tap it right back the keeper to make it a 3-0 advantage for the Mustangs.
 
The Mustangs got the scoring going in the second half in the 48th minute. Harry Pinchard picked up a rebound after a shot by Tom Worm was saved and was able to turn it into the back of the net to make it a 4-0 game in favor of the Mustangs.
 
The lead grew to five in the 52nd minute. Pinchard crossed one up to Liam Murray who was able to beat the keeper to the left of the net and give the Mustangs a 5-0 edge.
 
Cooper Nunn scored for the Mustangs in the 63rd minute off a tough angle. Taking a free kick deep in the right wing, Nunn sent the ball to the front of the net, where it bent in past the keeper who was screened by another Mustang, making it a 6-0 score.
 
Silic completed a hat trick in the 78th minute. He took a cross from Angus Mitchison right in the middle of the box, where he was able to turn and shoot at a wide open net to make it a 7-0 Mustang lead.
 
Jacob Forster got the start for the Mustangs, making two saves in the first half to earn the win. He and Leon Grueneke combined for a shutout, as Grueneke made two saves in the second half. The Express' Jose Hernandez made seven saves, but took his first loss of the year in net.
 
Silic scored three times on Friday to improve his season total to five through two games. Sitz, Pinchard, Murray and Nunn each tallied a goal for the Mustangs, while Pinchard and Sitz both added an assist. Mitchison got his first point of the year with an assist in the second half, while Gartmann contributed an assist as well, his second of the season.
 
The Mustangs outshot the Express, 29-7, in Friday's win, including a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal. Nine corner kicks went to the Mustangs, while just one was taken by the Express.
 
The Mustangs continue the regular season on Wednesday, May 5, when they visit Suffolk County Community College for their only road contest of the regular season. That game is set to kick off at 4 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).