WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Monmouth Women's Soccer collected a 1-0 victory in its season opener Wednesday evening against visiting Manhattan on Hesse Field.
The Hawks used a first half goal off the foot of junior forward
Ashley Lavrich, which came in the 15th minute of the first half. The goal sparked more offensive chances for Monmouth as the visiting Jaspers pushed the hosts on their back foot to start the match as they created havoc in the Hawks' defensive third in the opening 10 minutes.
"They came out on fire and we knew they would," said Monmouth coach
Kylee Flynn. "They're always well coached and a feisty team, so we knew they were going to come out hard, and we had to ride out their wave there. But Ash has been very composed on the ball in these last two scrimmages, and again tonight she's just been so good. She's been working on her game to this point, and I'm thrilled she was able to hit a banger off of Marie's banger."
Tallulah Miller was tested early in net for Monmouth, making a save on the Jaspers first chance on frame within the first three minutes. Manhattan continued playing dangerous balls inside the box and had an early first half chance in the sixth minute, as a free ball in the box fell to the foot of Baleigh Johnson who volleyed an attempt just high.
The Jaspers continued sending crosses inside the box and in the 13th minute narrowly took the lead, as Arancha Atunes got a head on a ball played just outside the six-yard box but Miller rose up and got a glove on the attempt to careen the ball away intended for the far corner for the diving stop. The save proved crucial, as Monmouth countered following a clearance on an ensuing Manhattan corner, led by sophomore
Evangeline Perdomo who was dominant all night on the left wing. She used her speed to torch past her defender before finding the feet of an open
Marie Bogue. Bogue took a touch and created space about 30-yards out to rip a laser that hit off the right edge of the cross bar. Lavrich was there to clean up, however, and put away her first of the season while giving her team a much needed 1-0 cushion.
Gallery: (8-12-2026) Monmouth vs Manhattan
"It was definitely a team effort," Lavrich said. "I felt like our defense kept us in the game because it was a 1-0 game. We all had to stay up and our forwards created a lot of tight chances and we just have to keep working at it as the week continues and obviously as we start the season. I feel like we'll get those chances coming together."
The cushion was tested once again in the 27th minute, as a miscommunication in the back led to a dead ball played across that was intercepted by the Jaspers leading to a 1-v-1 the other way in the open field. Miller did well to time her space off her line, coming out big with Manhattan hitting their attempt high to end the threat.
Monmouth ended the half strong, as the bench played solid minutes to end the period. Freshman
Nikki Nguyen earned her first minutes of her collegiate career and played hard, winning the ball back in the midfield before earning a free kick inside her team's offensive half. Senior midfielder
Chloe Messer stepped up to play a dangerous ball inside the box, but the Jasper defense was able to clear. Junior midfielder
Maddie DeMaio then had two chances to end the first 45 minutes, the second in the final minute which eyed the far-right corner but was saved by Manhattan's Margaret Brunk.
Monmouth had a stronger second half of play, controlling possession and creating more in their offensive third. Although the Hawks had more shots in the first half than second (9-8), their ability to hold possession forced the Jaspers to lay back defensively, which helped keep the shutout as they limited the visitors to just four second half shots on target.
Manhattan struggled finding answers for Perdomo who buzzed around the ball. She narrowly added to the lead twice in the second half, first stemming from high pressure on the press as the visitors tried to work out the back. She and Lavrich won the ball with Perdomo finding space to try a shot top right corner, but Brunk timed her dive perfectly, getting her hand on the attempt to parry the ball away. In the 64th minute, Perdomo once again showed her prowess on the ball, splitting between two defenders before getting taken down in the box to earn the penalty. However, Brunk guessed correctly on the ensuing attempt to keep the score at 1-0.
Monmouth held on the rest of the way, stymying late attacks in the box from the Jaspers in the final 10 minutes to help solidify the shutout.
Monmouth out-shot Manhattan 17-13 in the game, including 8-5 in shots on target, but the Jaspers held the advantage in corners, 7-5. Lavrich led the team offensively with four shots, followed by Perdomo and DeMaio with three each. Defensively, the backline of
Charlee Perna,
Cadi Hoke and
Grace Notarfrancesco aided in the shutout, playing a full 90 alongside Miller who finished with five saves.
"Unbelievable. She was the reason we were able to stay in that game," Flynn said of Miller. "A couple of those headers we right in close… they were world class [saves]. She's not the biggest goalie we've ever had but she can make those saves and she confidently does it every time. I'm proud of her."
The Hawks are back in action Sunday, traveling to Staten Island to face Wagner at 1 p.m.
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