WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- The top-seeded Monmouth University's men's soccer team fell in the semifinal round of the Northeast Conference Tournament, losing to fourth-seeded Central Connecticut State by a 1-0 margin on The Great Lawn on Friday afternoon.
Central tallied the first two shots on goal of the game, with MU's Daniel Schenkel (Campo Verde, Brazil/Virginia Intermont) turning away both shots to keep the game scoreless. The Blue Devils also registered the game's first two corner kicks but the Hawk defense did not allow a shot on goal.
Monmouth's Damon Wilson (Swedesboro, N.J./St. Andrews) had the best chance of the first half at the 19:39, getting a feed from Mike Millar (Kearney, N.J./Kearney) in the middle of the field and putting a shot on the CCSU net, forcing Armstrong to make a diving save. Minutes later Wilson beat out the Central defenders to a ball in the corner, sending a pass to the center of the field where Gray could not get a foot on it. The first half ended as it began, scoreless, with Central holding a 6-4 advantage in shots.
The Blue Devils had the first real chance in the second frame, with Yan Klukowski firing a shot that Schenkel was able to get in front of preserving the tie. Twenty minutes later Klukowski had header that looked on target but Schenkel was once again able to make the save. The Hawk offense picked up after Klukowski's header, with Monmouth tallying three straight shots, two off the foot of Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, N.J./Naugatuck). Monmouth junior Andreas Klang (Gothemberg, Sweden/Brevard C.C.) put a laser on net with 7:12 to play in regulation but Armstrong was able to corral it and send it away harmlessly.
Central was unable to get a good shot on the Hawks until Connor Smith had a shot on goal that was blocked by a diving Monmouth defender. With the ball loose in front of the net and MU's netminder getting back into position, freshman midfielder David Pinto gave the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead on a ball placed in the right corner with 4:42 to play in regulation. Monmouth was unable to get a quality chance as time wound down and Central held on to defeat the defending champions.
Both teams earned 10 shots in the contest, with CCSU holding a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. Schenkel made five saves in net, while Armstrong finished with four in the win. Klukowski and Robert Cavener had three shots to lead Central, while Kinne finished with four for the Hawks. Monmouth ends its season with a 12-5-2 record, while CCSU improves to 7-8-3.
Central will face Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday at 12 p.m. on The Great Lawn in the NEC Tournament Championship Game. The Red Flash defeated Sacred Heart 3-0 in the second semifinal game with Daniel Moir scoring a pair of goals.
