October 2, 1997 

MEN=S SOCCER TEAM SNAPS LOSING STREAK AT MILLIKIN

MONMOUTH,IL -- The Monmouth men=s soccer team got back on the winning track Wednesday afternoon as the Fighting Scots won a non-conference match against Millikin University on the road in Decatur. The 3-2 victory snapped a four-match losing streak for Monmouth, which improves its record to 3-5 on the season. The win also avenged a tough overtime 5-5 tie between the two squads last year at Monmouth.

Senior keeper Jeff Sutton (Alton,IL/HS) played the entire match in goal for Monmouth and was credited with seven saves as Millikin actually outshot the Scots by a 20-13 margin. The match was tied 1-1 at halftime but two second-half goals gave Monmouth the much-needed victory.

Senior striker Josh Oakley (Mattoon,IL/HS) continued his brilliant season, scoring the Scots= first two goals of the match. Oakley now has nine goals in eight games and his 20 total points leads the team scoring. His first tally came in the 35th minute of the first period on an assist from freshman Alan Philips (Washington, IL/HS) and gave Monmouth a brief 1-0 lead. Millikin tied the match six minutes later with their first score.

The second half proved to be the difference as the Scots came out fired up and immediately put pressure on the ball. Oakley netted his second goal seven minutes into the period with the assist going to junior midfielder Sean Lowery (St. Charles,MO/Francis Howell North). The eventual game-winner came in the 60th minute from an unlikely source. Sophomore Marlon Layton (London,England/St.George=s) converted an assist pass from Matthew Carl (Aurora,IL/Waubonsie Valley) for the Scots= third goal and increased the lead to 3-1. Millikin scored with ten minutes remaining on the game clock but the Monmouth defense stiffened and was able to control the ball to secure the win.

After a hectic schedule the past two weeks, the soccer team gets some well-needed rest time. The Scots will look to hold the momentum into next week as the team is idle until Tuesday, October 7. The men will play Augustana College in Rock Island as part of a rescheduled doubleheader match with the women=s team. The women=s match will start at 2:30 PM with the men=s contest beginning at approximately 4:30 PM. The Scots= next MWC conference match will be at Knox College on Saturday, October 11.