NCAA FIRST ROUND GAME
Stony Brook University (10-6-3, 4-2-1 America East) at
Monmouth University (14-5-1, 7-3 NEC)
Thursday, November 19, 2011; 7 p.m.
The Great Lawn, West Long Branch, N.J.
Streaming Video Information (FREE):
The Pack Network: http://www.packnetwork.com
Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Eddy Occhipinti (Color Analyst)
Ticket Info:
For tickets call 732-263-6889
Tickets are $6
MU & Stony Brook Students with a valid ID: $3
Credit cards may be used for advanced sales (up to 5 p.m. on 11/17)
CASH ONLY after 5 p.m. on Thursday
Today's Game:The 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament begins Thursday, when the nationally-ranked No. 23 Monmouth University men's soccer team plays host to America East Champion Stony Brook. The Hawks won their third-straight Northeast Conference Tournament Championship in dramatic fashion, going to penalty kicks to get past Central Connecticut in the semifinals, before freshman midfielder Kalle Sotka's golden goal with 20 seconds left in the second overtime of the championship match against Fairleigh Dickinson punched Monmouth's ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Seawolves won a pair of games in the America East Conference Tournament to earn their berth. Stony Brook defeated Albany, 3-1, in the semifinals, before getting past Hartford, 4-2, in the championship. The Hawks are playing in their fourth NCAA Tournament (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011), and have compiled an 0-3-1 record. Monmouth advanced past Connecticut on penalty kicks in 2009. Stony Brook is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance, having posted a 1-2 record in three tournament games in 2005 and 2009. The Seawolves defeated Yale in 2005, before falling in the second round to Connecticut. In 2009, Stony Brook fell in the first round to Brown.
On Nov. 6, the Hawks captured an unprecedented seventh straight regular season championship, all under the guidance of Head Coach Robert McCourt. The four-time NEC Coach of the Year has taken the program to four NEC Tournament titles in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Hawks have maintained a presence in the national rankings for the majority of this season, checking in as high as No. 13 in the Soccer America Top 25, No. 18 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire National Rankings, No. 21 in the College Soccer News National Poll and No. 39 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Tournament 48. In addition, the Hawks currently rank No. 27 in the NCAA Division I RPI, their highest mark of the season. Within the league, McCourt has presided over a program that has posted an astounding 47-7-12 record in league play over the last seven years, including a 26-2-5 record at home. With the NEC's stingiest defense (0.60 gpg) and third-most potent offense (1.30 gpg), the Hawks seem to be clicking entering the NCAA Tournament. Monmouth features a trio of Hermann Trophy candidates in senior defenders RJ Allen and Anthony Vazquez and senior midfielder Max Hamilton. With two nationally-recognized defenders, it's no surprise that the Hawks rank fifth in the nation in shutout percentage (.667) and sixth in goals-against average (0.58).
Junior goalkeeper Alex Blackburn also ranks eighth in the nation in goals-against average (.583) and 26th in save percentage (.813). HAWKS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENTThe Hawks are playing in their fourth NCAA Tournament, all under Head Coach Robert McCourt. Monmouth has posted an 0-3-1 record, moving past Connecticut on penalty kicks in the first round in 2009. The Hawks fell, 1-0, to St. John's in 2006. After tying UConn, 0-0, and moving into the second round on the strength of a 4-3 edge on PK's, Monmouth fell at Harvard, 3-0. Last season, Monmouth fell to Dartmouth, 4-0, in the first round.
BREAKING DOWN THE STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES
The Seawolves (10-6-3) earned the America East Conference's automatic bid by winning a pair of games as the No. 2 seed against sixth-seeded Albany, 3-1, and fifth-seeded Hartford, 4-2. America East Midfielder of the Year Leonardo Fernandes leads the Seawolves' attack with nine goals, seven assists and 25 points, all team highs. America East Striker of the Year Berian Gobeil Cruz is another dangerous scorer, compiling seven goals and three assists this season. The Seawolves have been scoring at will of late, tallying 2.6 goals per game over their last five contests. Junior goalkeeper Stefan Manz has seen the majority of time in net for the Seawolves, compiling a 1.20 goals-against average and a .690 saves percentage.
BEST THING ABOUT FRESHMEN IS THEY BECOME SOPHOMORES
Freshmen Kalle Sotka (Helsinki, Finland/Makelanrinteen Sports) and Derek Luke (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) provided all of the Hawks' scoring in the 2011 NEC Tournament. Luke scored in the fifth minute of Monmouth's 1-1 draw in the semifinals against Central Connecticut, before Sotka found the back of the net in the 27th and 110th minutes in a 2-1 championship victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. Both were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team, with Sotka earning Tournament MVP honors.
GREAT LAWN, GREAT RESULTS
In Robert McCourt's tenure at Monmouth, the Hawks have posted a 59-12-13 record on The Great Lawn, good for a .780 winning percentage.
SHUTOUT SPECIALISTSThe Hawks rank fifth in the nation in shutout percentage (0.60), having completed clean sheets in 12 of 20 games this season. The mark has also led to a 0.58 team goals-against average, good for sixth in the nation. Goalkeeper Alex Blackburn's (Natick, Mass./Natick) 0.583 goals-against average also ranks eighth in the nation.
HAWKS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
The Hawks are ranked No. 23 in this week's NSCAA/Continental Tire National Rankings, No. 27 in the NCAA Division I RPI and No. 41 in this week's TopDrawerSoccer.com Tournament 48. The Hawks received votes in last week's College Soccer News National Poll,the last poll prior to the season-ending edition. Earlier this season, the Hawks ranked as highly as No. 18 in the NSCAA poll, No. 13 in the Soccer America Top 25 and No. 21 in the College Soccer News poll. In addition, they ranked as highly as No. 39 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Tournament 48.
POWERFUL PERCENTAGE
Head Coach Robert McCourt, in his eighth season with the Hawks, won his 100th career match with a victory against Mount St. Mary's on Nov. 6. He's now posted a 101-33-25 mark in his career, good for a .714 winning percentage.
