Hawks lose momentum against Colonials, fall to 0-2
BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff Writer

WEST LONG BRANCH - For most of the first half, the Monmouth University (MU) Hawks looked like the better football team.

And for the Hawk fans assembled at MU's Kessler Field on Saturday for the team's home opener, that was reason to celebrate, as the Hawks dominated a Robert Morris University (RMU) team that was presenting them with their first Northeast Conference challenge of the season.

Unfortunately, that dominance was fleeting, and with Robert Morris' passing game finding its stride near the end of the first half, combined with the Colonials' defense making the necessary adjustments to slow what had been an impressive Monmouth offensive effort, the visiting team was able to turn the tide and sneak off with a 20-17 victory, thanks to Michael Walser's 36-yard field goal with 47 seconds left.

With the loss, the Hawks fell to 0-2 on the young season, having lost their opener, 21-14, to Maine the previous weekend, while Robert Morris, a 23-12 loser to Dayton in their opener, improved to 1-1. MU hasn't started the year 0-2 since 2002 when they began the campaign with four straight defeats.

"We started fast out of the gate with a two-touchdown lead, but let them come back with their passing game," said head coach Kevin Callahan. "Anytime you lose, it's tough, but a team hasn't won the NEC title by going undefeated in a long time."

Early on, Monmouth appeared poised to run away with this one, as David Sinisi and the MU offense scored 14 quick points. Sinisi, of Cedar Grove, capped off Monmouth's first home drive of the year on a 1-yard scoring run to extend the nation's longest consecutive games-with-atouchdown streak to 14. The drive encompassed 12 plays and chewed up 70 yards in just over five minutes.

The Hawk defense then did its job by forcing an RMU punt, setting up the Hawks' second drive of the game as Sinisi broke free for a 34-yard gain, and then found the end zone again to cap a sixplay, 63-yard scoring drive that lasted just three minutes. At this point in the contest, Sinisi already had 108 yards on 13 carries, while Adam San Miguel of North Bergen became MU's all-time leader in pass receptions, surpassing former Hawk and current Dallas Cowboy Miles Austin with his 151st career catch.

But just as it seemed Monmouth was clicking on all cylinders, the Colonials took over. After Monmouth's next drive stalled, punter Jack Daniels boomed a 44- yard punt that pinned RMU at the 4-yard line with just over eight minutes to play in the first half. However, Robert Morris quickly struck via a 50-yard play-action pass from quarterback Erik Cwalinski to Mario Hines, and on the following play Julian Ellison hauled in a 43-yard touchdown to cut the MU lead to 14-7 with 6:48 left in the first half. The three-play, 96- yard drive took less than a minute and a half.

Just like that, the Colonials had come alive, and more importantly, had captured the momentum. Once the second half began, the Colonials picked up where they left off, taking the second-half kickoff and moving the ball deep into MU territory, thanks in part to a lucky play where Cwalinski handed off and the back fumbled, but the quarterback scooped up the loose ball and ran it down to the 20- yard line. Robert Morris capitalized when running back Jeff Link ran around the right end from 3 yards out to tie the game at 14-14 with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

After Monmouth's drive stalled, the Colonials were back on the offensive as Cwalinski converted a third-and-14 by hitting receiver Alvin Hill down to the 10- yard line, setting up a 23-yard field goal attempt that gave the visitors a 17-14 lead with 3:27 left. Monmouth fought back to tie the game when Fred Weingart, of New Eygpt, connected on a 42-yard field goal with 10 minutes to play, set up by a 27-yard pass play from Brett Burke, of Wall, to Troy Yudin, of Stevenson, Calif.

After the Monmouth defense did its job, the Hawks got the ball back with a chance to regain the lead, only to be thwarted by the Colonial defense, which forced the Hawks to punt out of their own end zone. As a result, RMU got the ball again, when Mario Hines returned the ball to the Hawk 33-yard line, setting up the game-winning field goal.

Sinisi ended up with 120 yards on 18 carries and added 72 yards on six catches for a career-high 192 total yards. Burke completed 16-of-30 passes for 158 yards and also ran 13 times for 36 yards. San Miguel caught seven passes for 38 yards and Steve Dowens (Red Bank/Middletown South) added two catches for 21 yards.

Monmouth has a bye next week and returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. when they travel to Long Island to take on Stony Brook.

Stony Brook improved to 2-0 over the weekend with a 48-20 win over Bucknell. They also beat Georgetown, 35-29, in their opener.

Notes… As part of Saturday's home opener, Monmouth University held its groundbreaking for its new 152,4000- square-foot multipurpose activity center (MAC), which is expected to take about two years to complete.

"The MAC groundbreaking is a dream come true for students and athletes alike," said Dr. Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth's vice president and director of athletics. "It will raise the stature of our 19 Division I programs, but will also serve as a hub of activity for all students. Located near the heart of the campus, we envision the MAC to be a destination place for everyone."

The MAC, which will serve students, faculty, employees, alumni and residents of the local community, is slated to contain a multipurpose gymnasium with 4,100 installed seats and a 200M, six-lane indoor track. The new building will also be home to the university bookstore, the Monmouth University Athletics Hall of Fame, home and opposing locker rooms, educational and administrative areas, a new Varsity Club and a new fitness center.

The structure, which cost about $57 million, has no comparable facilities in Monmouth County.

The activity center will expand the scope of Monmouth's intramural and recreational programs and enhance its 19 NCAA Division I athletic programs the university sponsors.