MONMOUTH,IL -- The Monmouth men’s soccer team continued its recent dominance over the Cornell Rams today, posting a 5-0 home shutout victory at Bobby Woll Field. Monmouth extended its winning streak against Cornell to 11 matches and has won the last three contests by shutouts. The last Cornell goal scored in the series was in 1995 and the last time the Rams won was in the 1991 season.
The Fighting Scots rebounded from a home loss to Lake Forest on Sunday with their first shutout of the new season in the non-conference contest between former MWC rivals. Monmouth improves to 2-1 with the win while Cornell drops to 2-3.
Senior striker Josh Oakley (Mattoon,IL/Mattoon) was a one-man wrecking crew for Monmouth as he scored all three of the Scots’ first-half goals and assisted both second-period scores. It was the third career hat trick for Oakley, whose first three-goal performance came at home against Cornell two seasons ago. He opened the scoring eight minutes into the first half of play on an assist from sophomore Jason Blair (Danville,IL/Danville) and then connected on a solo goal just four minutes later. Oakley completed his trio with a penalty kick goal in the 43rd minute. The three scores give him five on the season and 20 in his Monmouth career.
In the second half, Monmouth continued to keep the pressure on the Rams and senior goalkeeper Jeff Sutton (Alton,IL/Alton), who was credited with 9 saves in his first shutout of the season, stopped everything Cornell could send at him. The Fighting Scots, who ended the match with a 22-13 shots-on-goal advantage, received security goals from midfielders Sean Lowery (St. Charles,MO/Francis Howell North) and Matthew Burge (Champaign,IL/Central) in the second period. Lowery converted a crossing pass from Oakley in the 69th minute and Burge rebounded an Oakley miss at 75:55 to give the Scots the final 5-0 margin of victory. 
"We showed much improvement from the weekend," said Scots coach Rue Carthew. "Sutton played an outstanding game at keeper and our energy level was higher than on Sunday. We still need to work together better as a team but we played a bit better today."
The Scots are off until Saturday when they entertain MWC North Division opponent Beloit. The kickoff is set for 3:00 PM at Woll Field and will follow the women’s contest, scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.