It took 103 minutes of hard-nosed soccer, but the Monmouth Hawks claimed their second men’s soccer conference championship in the last four years. In a battle of two defensive squads, the Hawks defeated the Fairfield Stags 2-1 in a double overtime game that featured a penalty kick and a red card in the second half.
The first half saw both teams controlling even possession. The back and forth play led to offensive opportunities for the fourth seeded Hawks and the sixth seeded Stags, but the Hawks were able to create the best chances, taking six shots to Fairfield’s four. Both teams had two shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, but the half ended in a scoreless tie.
The second half was just as laboring and hostile as the first. Both teams were doing well in open space, but neither squad could take advantage of there opportunities. But in the 71st minute, Fairfield senior forward Jordan Ayris created an opening down field, and then fired a strike past Monmouth sophomore goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky to give Fairfield the 1-0 lead. It was Ayris’ second goal of the tournament.
Moments later Monmouth started an attack of their own in an attempt to tie the game. The Hawks were able to put a shot on goal, but Fairfield junior goalie Matt Turner dove to his right and deflected the ball off the post keeping the Stags in front. Almost immediately after, the Hawks came down the field and were fouled inside the penalty area. Fairfield freshman defender Angus Hastings was given a red card for the foul, giving the Hawks a penalty kick. Senior defender Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang stepped and converted on the penalty, tying the game at one a piece. The game would still be tied at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.
The first overtime period did not see any real chances for either team. But less than four minutes into double overtime, a punched ball from Turner found Hawks sophomore forward Dave Nigro, who proceeded to settle the ball, and bend a shot into the bottom right corner to win the game, and the conference tournament for the Hawks. Nigro’s goal gave Monmouth their first MAAC championship in just their second year in the conference.
Senyah Agyemang was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Nigro, senior Matt Jeffery and junior Derek Luke of Monmouth were named to the All-Tournament Team. With win the win, the Hawks earn an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks will play the Xavier Musketeers in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday Nov. 20.
