MONMOUTH,IL -- The Monmouth men=s soccer team rebounded from a tough loss at Knox on Saturday with a strong defensive match against Blackburn College today at Bobby Woll Field. The Fighting Scots scored once in each half to claim a 2-0 non-conference victory and improved their season record to 4-7.

Senior Jeff Sutton (Alton,IL/HS) posted his second individual shutout of the season in the nets for Monmouth. Sutton was credited with 12 saves, seven coming in the second half when Blackburn was playing with a stiff wind at their backs. The Beavers took two more shots on goal than Monmouth (18-16) but were unable to score, despite mounting several offensive runs.

The Scots may have paid a costly price for the victory as senior forward Josh Oakley (Mattoon,IL/ HS), who leads the team with 12 goals and three assists, sustained a neck injury and concussion midway through the second half. Oakley left the match with 27 minutes remaining on the clock but not before helping put his squad up by two scores. Oakley opened the scoring at 15:07 of the first period, heading a crossing pass from junior Sean Lowery (St. Charles,MO/Francis Howell North) past the Blackburn goalie. The Scots could not take more advantage of the tailwind and the half ended with Monmouth ahead 1-0.

The frontline pair teamed up again ten minutes after intermission for Monmouth=s second score but this time it was Lowery who converted an assist pass from Oakley. After the Scots defense successfully cleared the ball down the right sideline, Oakley gained control and fed the ball to Lowery breaking free across the field. Lowery took a short dribble and booted a left-foot shot into the corner of the nets for his third goal of the season.

The defense played well throughout the match and tightened even more following Oakley=s injury to shut down the Blackburn attack. The Beavers had 12 second-half shots while Monmouth could only muster seven, but it was the backline defensive effort of Dustin Salmon (Pekin,IL/HS), Matthew Carl (Aurora,IL/ Waubonsie Valley) and Gary Schneider (East Moline,IL/United Township) which held Blackburn in check for most of the contest.

Monmouth will now prepare for two crucial Midwest Conference matches this weekend. Saturday the Scots play host to St. Norbert College at 1:00 PM at Galesburg High School and the men return to Bobby Woll Field on Sunday for a 1:00 PM showdown with Lawrence University.