WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team, ranked #13 in the latest NSCAA/HendrickCars.com National Top-25 Poll, defeated in-state rival Fairleigh Dickinson, 1-0 Friday in the 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament Semifinals on The Great Lawn. Monmouth, the top seed in the league tournament, advances to the finals where it will meet third-seeded Saint Francis University, 2-1 overtime winners over #2 Sacred Heart, on Sunday at 12:00 pm on The Great Lawn.
The Hawks were paced by junior Cesar Blacido (Ramsey, N.J. /Ramsey), who recorded the match's lone tally to knock off the fourth -seeded Knights. With the victory, MU improves to 13-4-1 on the season, while FDU ends its 2010 campaign with a 9-7-2 mark.
"I was very happy with the team's effort today," said MU head coach Robert McCourt. "It was a deserved result and we are excited to play in the tournament final."
After a scoreless first half, Monmouth finally found the back of the net in the 50th minute when sophomore Ryan Clark (Freehold, N.J. /Freehold Township) hit the far post with a shot that rebounded back into the six yard area and was pounced on by Blacido, who beat FDU keeper Jacob Lissek between his legs.
In the first half, the Hawks controlled the play, registering five shots and earning 10 corner kicks. MU's best opportunity to score in the opening frame came from NEC Player of the Year Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn. /Naugatuck), who shot high from 12 yards out. The Knights earned two corner kicks in the first half but were unable to record a shot on target.
Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J. /Scotch Plains-Fanwood) earned his league-best 10th clean sheet of the season in goal for the Hawks as FDU was held without a shot on goal by the suffocating Monmouth defense.
