FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2006
BOX SCOREWEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- After playing even for 82 minutes, Monmouth University junior
Damon Wilson (Swedesboro, N.J./St. Andrew's) notched his second goal of the weekend, giving the Hawks their second NEC Championship, a 1-0 win over St. Francis (Pa.) in the NEC title game.
"It's a tremendous achievement for the program," said head coach
Rob McCourt. "I am happy for our guys. I want to thank the administration for their support. We feel like we have a lot more soccer yet to play.
Wilson's goal came with 8:01 left in the second half, when the midfielder blasted a left footer from 18 yards out that snuck in the top right corner of the Red Flash goal.
It is the first NEC championship for McCourt, who, in his third year at the helm of the program, is the two-time NEC Coach of the Year. The last time the Hawks won the NEC title was in 1990, but this will mark the first time Monmouth makes an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Each team had its chances to score in the first half, with SFU's best chance coming 11 minutes into the game. Red Flash forward Aaron Clapham, a second-team selection, picked a pass out of midair, redirecting the ball straight at the Monmouth net, forcing MU netminder
Daniel Schenkel (Campo Verde, Brazil) to make a diving save.
With 13:55 remaining in the first half Monmouth junior
Tom Gray (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) sprinted past a defender to get to a well-placed
Steven Holloway (Hamilton, New Zealand/Hamilton) feed but Gray's ensuing shot sailed to right of the goal.
With the second half underway, Clapham intercepted a pass deep in the MU zone, turned and fired a shot that missed the goal. Gray had a chance with just over 30 minutes left in regulation when he shot a ball low that was saved by Red Flash goalie Brad Williams.
Less than a minute, later Schenkel made another clutch save on St. Francis' Jeremy Tice, who netted the overtime winner in the semifinals, to preserve the scoreless game.
With 8:03 left in regulation, Wilson took a pass from Gray, turned and blasted a laser from 18 yards out to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Monmouth was able to keep the pressure on the St. Francis players, never allowing a quality opportunity to tie the game.
Gray led the Hawks with four shots, three of them on goal. Clapham led the Red Flash with four shots in the contest.
The shutout was Schenkel's 13th of the season and second of the tournament as he finished with six saves. Williams had five saves for the Red Flash.
Monmouth held a 11-9 advantage in shots, while the two teams were tied in corner kicks 4-4.
Wilson, Gray, Schenkel and Holloway were all named to the NEC All-Tournament Team, with Holloway taking home Most Valuable Player honors.
Tice, Clapham and defender Bryce Luetzen represented St. Francis on the All-Tournament Team. Fairleigh Dickinson's Donny Mayard was also named to the squad.
The Hawks will find out who they play tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 6 during the NCAA Selection Show.
