PURCHASE, N.Y., October 6, 2018 – Led by a hat trick from Mamadou Diombera, the Monroe College Express men's soccer team shut out Dutchess Community College, 7-0, Saturday afternoon at a gloomy SUNY Purchase. The Express improve to 5-3 overall and 5-2 against Region XV opponents, while Dutchess falls to 2-7 on the year and 1-6 in region play.
 
Things started quickly for the Express on Saturday when they drew a penalty-kick opportunity at the 2:03 mark. Abdoul Sangare took the try and beat the goalie just inside the left post, putting Monroe quickly up, 1-0.
 
The Express capitalized on another strong scoring chance in the 17th minute. Diombera fired toward the net from the left wing, but the keeper made a diving stop. Ryan Smart came in to clean it up and pushed it past the goalie and over the line to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Just 90 seconds later, Diombera was able to play the ball into the box, and then blasted one into the left corner of the net for his seventh goal of the season, giving the Express a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Express kept the heat on the Falcons in the 27th minute. Elhadj Diallo sent a beautiful through ball up the middle of the field, finding Kashane Bedward all by himself streaking toward the box. He then beat the keeper to the right, pushing Monroe's lead to four.
 
Later in the first, Diombera netted his second of the day. Diallo fed him with a cross right in front of the keeper, and Diombera tapped it into the right corner to make it a 5-0 game at the 32:35 mark.
 
Diombera completed the hat trick in the 44th minute, scoring off a long cross from Rockeem Russell, giving the Express a 6-0 advantage heading into the half.
 
Both teams were kept off the board until the final minute of the second half. Thierno Bah put his first goal of the season into the back of the net with 39 seconds remaining off a feed from Balvin West, capping off the 7-0 victory.
 
Goalkeeper Mustapha Ceesay picked up the win after playing the first 45 minutes in net to improve to 4-3 on the season. Dutchess keeper Aaron Langiu shouldered the loss, but made nine saves.
 
Diombera totaled seven points on the afternoon with his three goals and an assist. He also led the team with seven total shots. Diallo added a pair of assists. The Express held a significant 24-13 advantage in shots in the win, as well as a 16-5 advantage in shots on net. They also led with seven corner kicks compared to just three for the Falcons.
 
The Express get back to work on Tuesday, Oct. 9, when they visit Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, N.Y. The game is set to kick off at 4 p.m.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of Monroe's Bronx campus has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning with their inaugural seasons in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress) and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).