PISCATAWAY, NJ – Sophomore Chris Karcz (Clifton, NJ) scored twice in the opening 25 minutes of play to pace Rutgers’ 5-2 win over Monmouth tonight in non-conference men’s soccer action at Yurcak Field. Rutgers outshot the Hawks 31-7 in the match, improving to 5-4-3 on the season. Monmouth fell to 3-8.

Karcz’s first goal came at the 18:00 mark, capping a fluid play that began when freshman Sam Castellanos (Philadelphia, PA), playing a corner kick, sent a ball to senior Guy Abrahamson (Livingston, NJ) just outside the right corner of the penalty area. Abrahamson, with clear space in front of him, ripped a cross into the box, which Karcz raced towards and headed into the goal for his third of the season. Just over six minutes later, Karcz struck again, knocking home a rebounded shot by Sherif El Bialy (Cairo, Egypt).

RU held its 2-0 lead into the second half, before Abrahamson committed a foul inside the box, setting up a successful penalty kick by Nick Randazzo. With the lead cut to one, Brian Johnson (Marshfield, MA) scored off a feed from Castellanos 10 minutes later, heading in a cross from the left side.

Leading 3-1, RU increased its lead with back-to-back goals by El Bialy (76:45) and Johnson (83:17). El Bialy duped three defenders at the top of the penalty area for an unassisted goal, while Johnson scored on a cross from Scott Gahagan (Old Bridge, NJ). Monmouth finished off the scoring when Joe Sellitto completed a corner kick from Randazzo.

RU’s Ricky Zinter (Penfield, NY) made three saves in goal, while Arthur Satterwhite stopped 11 and was aided by two defensive saves. In addition to its 31-7 edge in shots, RU also led in corner kicks, 12-1.

The Scarlet Knights’ non-conference slate continues on Saturday, when the team hosts 11th-ranked South Carolina at 7:00 p.m.