Esparon, Andersen Score in Scots Soccer Loss

Monmouth nets season-high two goals

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (10/06/2021) — The Monmouth College men's soccer team set new season highs in goals scored, shots and tied their high for shots on goal Tuesday but fell to Knox 4-2. The Scots got goals from Nico Esparon (Saint Denis, France) and Seth Andersen (Galesburg, Illinois) in the second half but couldn't erase the four-goal deficit.

Knox got on the board 18:53 into the game and doubled their lead less than four minutes later. A penalty kick goal made it 3-0 with just under seven minutes to play in the first half. Knox made it 4-0 five minutes into the second half when Martin Garcia scored.

"The first half was obviously disappointing," said Monmouth coach Ian Hatleli. "How we responded in the second half is what we have to take out of this game."

The Scots got on the board with 17 minutes to play. Conner Graham (Chillicothe, Illinois) played in Esparon and the senior bagged his second goal of the season. With just under five minutes to play, Montgomery Schroeder (Harrisonville, Missouri) was fouled just outside the box and to the right of the goal. Esparon sent the free kick into back post and Andersen headed it past the Knox keeper for his first goal of the season.

"We proved that we can work together as a collective unit and get the result we want," said Hatleli. "Now we must build off the last 45 minutes as we enter the second half of the conference season."

Monmouth kept the pressure on over the final minutes of the game but were unable to get any closer. The Scots won the second half 2-1 and outshot Knox 9-7 over the final 45 minutes.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Esparon has seven career goalsHe also added an assist on Tuesday, his first of 2021 and sixth careerBoth of his goals this season have come at homeThree of Monmouth's four goals in 2021 have been at Peacock ParkKnox outshot Monmouth 10-3 in the first half and 17-12 for the gameThe Scots 12 shots marked a new season high and the six shots on goal tie a season high from the Coe game that went double overtimeMarcos Garibay (Waukegan, Illinois) had seven savesFive Scots players played all 90 minutesThe Scots will be at Ripon on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to start a three-game road tripThe next home game is on Homecoming, October 23 at 1:30 p.m. against Beloit.