By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---The Express men's soccer team didn't help themselves in a 3-1 loss to No. 9 Monroe Community College at home today.

Monroe got on the board just 2:21 into the game when Jacob Martin (St. John's Jesuit/Maumee, OH) headed the ball into his own goal off a corner kick.

Then, at the 29:58 mark, Express goalkeeper Joshua Kleinow (Haslett/Holt, MI) came out to the right of the goal in an attempt to corral a ball, but it went through his hands. Monroe's Dean Thompson took advantage and crossed a ball to James Ritchie, who booted it in.

Monroe's Jesus Morales put his team up 3-0 at the 55:20 mark before Vijay Gentles (Cedric Titus/Margate, FL) scored the lone goal for the Express at the 68:06 mark. The sophomore broke free from the left side and beat the keeper to the right.

With eight minutes remaining, Monroe's goalkeeper Fernando Meza was red carded for an intentional hand ball outside the box. He had made a great save on a shot by Austin Combs (Anthony Wayne/Maumee, OH). On the ensuing free kick, Gentles just missed a shot high that would have pulled the Express within one.

Kleinow played the first half in goal and made two saves, while Ryan Wicher (Whitmer/Toledo, OH) played the second half and made one save.

Notes

The Express are now 11-4-1 overall. They have four matches remaining in the regular season, with their next match coming Oct. 16 at home against Cuyahoga Community College.

The goal by Gentles was his seventh this year.