THROGGS NECK, N.Y., September 15, 2021 - Six different players found the back of the net as the Monroe Express men's soccer team exploded for the program's first 10 goal game in two seasons, defeating visiting Queensborough Community College 10-0 in their Region 15 opener Tuesday afternoon at Reinhardt field. The victory improved the Express's record to 2-0 (1-0 Region 15), while the Tigers dropped to 0-2 (0-2 Region 15).

The defending Region 15 champions sent a message from the opening kickoff with offensive pressure early and often. After hitting the crossbar and post within 51 seconds of each other the third time was a charm for Edwin Zuniga Lopez (Bronx, NY) as his left-footed blast bounced off the inside of the left post and into the net in the 19th minute off a beautiful Andres Lora (Buenos Aires, Argentina) feed to give the Express an early 1-0 lead. 

Monroe-Bronx connected over a minute and a half later after Sabitu Issah (Accra, Ghana) bent a beautiful cross inside the goalie box, which found the head of 2020-21 NJCAA All-American James Gerbier (Rosedale, N.Y.) in the 21st minute to extend the advantage to 2-0. Gerbier answered again in the 35th minute off of a gorgeous 35-yard left-footed lob pass from Kevin Sia (Bronx, N.Y./Burkina Faso) to triple the Express lead to 3-0. 

Lopez added his second tally from Ulises Gomez (Cali, Colombia) in the 41st to give Monroe-Bronx a 4-0 halftime advantage. The Express outshot Queensborough 28-0 in the first half. 

Monroe-Bronx kept the pedal to the metal in the second half as Juan Henao (Colombia) unloaded a right-footed blast into the top left pocket of the net in the 61st minute to extend the advantage to 5-0 from Gerbier. He returned the favor in the 63rd minute providing a helper on Gerbier's third marker of the match and first career hat-trick to make it 6-0.

Lora buried his first goal of the season in the 65th minute from Amos Sawadogo  to make it 7-0, and Sawadogo notched the first tally of his career 58 seconds off of a lob pass from Gomez to make it 8-0 in the 66th minute. Sawadogo used his noggin to pick up his second on the afternoon in the 70th minute to increase the margin to 9-0 from Lora on a corner kick. After being denied by an offside earlier, Abul Chowdhury (Bronx, N.Y.) headed home a rebound for his first goal on the season in the 76th minute to make it 10-0.

The Express outshot the Tigers 54-1 on the afternoon, and their 54 total shots are a new program record surpassing the previous mark of 37 set back on October 20, 2018, against Rockland Community College.

Sophomores Jose Hernandez (Guatemala) and Aaron Quezada (Chihuahua, Mexico) combined for the shutout, playing 45 minutes each, with Quesada picking up a save on Queensborough's only shot of the match in the 72nd minute. Freshman Michael Medrano was outstanding in net for the Tigers making 15 saves on the afternoon.

In two days, the Express are back in action for a Region 15 Championship rematch on Saturday, September 18, against Suffolk Community College at 6 p.m. The site for the match is still being determined and for more information on the matchup, click the Monroe Express Men's Soccer Schedule. 

Notables

• The Express have just allowed six shots over their first two matches and surpassed their 10 goal total from last season with 15 goals over their first two games.
•  Edwin Zuniga Lopez (Bronx, NY) has recorded back-to-back multi-goal games for the second time in his career. He achieved the same feat in 2019 against Orange County Community College on September 14 and Bronx Community College on September 17.
• James Gerbier's (Rosedale, N.Y.) three-goal day surpassed his season-high goal total of two from the 2020-21 season.
• Juan Henao (Colombia) and Ulises Gomez (Cali, Colombia) have recorded points in back-to-back games, with Henao notched a goal for his second straight match and Gomez registering an assist.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.

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).