Monroe blitzes Rhode Island, 5-0

ROCHESTER - It was clear from very early on in Saturday's game that the Ryan Gray-to-Matt Englert connection was going to do some special things for the MCC men's soccer team.

The duo hooked up for the game's first goal just 17 seconds into the first half, and the Tribunes added four more goals in the second half en route to a 5-0 Homecoming victory over the Community College of Rhode Island.

MCC moved to 6-3-2 with the win. The Knights fell to 2-6-0.

Englert tacked on two more goals in the second half for his first collegiate hat trick. Gray assisted on both, as the sophomores left a huge mark on the match.

Moments after the opening whistle, Gray swiped possession from a CCRI defender just to the right of the Knight keeper. He centered the ball to Englert, who fired it home for a 1-0 lead. Despite a handful of Monroe scoring chances, the score remained that way into the break.

The Tribunes wasted little time pushing the pace in the second stanza. A takedown in the Rhode Island box resulted in a penalty kick just 25 seconds in, and Anthony Paris put it home for a 2-0 advantage.

Englert then put the game out of reach with two more scores in an eight-and-a-half minute span midway through the second half. Gray, of course, assisted on both as MCC took command.

Ryan Daymon added the final tally in the 87th minute, taking a long feed from Ethan Witkowski before putting it past the Knight keeper to provide the final margin.

Monroe outshot CCRI 25-5 on the game. Michael Hunter only had to make one save for the shutout, although it was a beauty as he came out of the goal to stop an attempt by Jason Lopes Di Pina in the 57th minute.