The Monmouth University women’s soccer team had two games this past week, both adding to their shutout streak as well as their unbreakable winning streak. The Hawks defeated Rider 1-0 on Wednesday. With only 3 days to rest, the team won against Quinnipiac with yet another 2-0 shutout on Saturday in Hamden, Connecticut, making their record (7-2-2).
Keeping the theme of quick first half goals, senior forward Rachelle Ross scored 70 seconds after the game began. Sophomore forward Madie Gibson found the ball near the corner of Quinnipiac’s penalty area and quickly navigated it to Ross, who kicked it in the upper near corner to make the game 1-0. This is the fastest goal Monmouth has made since 2013, when Julie Spracklin scored 25 seconds into the first half at Saint Peter’s.
Gibson and Ross came together again in the 35th minute of the game for another goal. Gibson sent the ball from the left side of the far post right to Ross to double their lead to 2-0.
Goalkeeper Amanda Knaub finished the game with three saves, securing her eighth shutout of the season, therefore keeping the team’s streak intact. Knaub has not allowed any shots on goal to get past her in over four hours of game time.
Head coach Krissy Turner said, “This was an excellent performance on the road. It was a total team effort right from the opening kickoff that led to this win. I am super proud of everyone on this team.”
As well as winning on the road, the Hawks earned another win against Rider earlier this week. Just three days before their game against Quinnipiac, Monmouth beat Rider 1-0 on Wednesday, September 27 at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn.
This was a nitty, gritty game right down to the last second. There was action on both goals, but Monmouth was the team to finally break through and score a goal late in the first half. Sophomore forward Dana Scheriff scored with a header to put Monmouth in the lead 1-0. Scheriff ran onto a bouncing ball and headed it past Rider’s emerging goal keeper for the first and only goal of the game. This is Scheriff’s second goal this season, both of which were game winners.
Scheriff described her game-winning goal, “I saw Rachelle working really hard to get to the end line and every practice our coach tells us to get in the box when we see our players going down the end line, and I did and she served it and it went right to my head.”
This was a well fought win for the team. Scheriff also stated that in the locker room before the game, the team knew that this was not going to be an easy game. Scheriff’s goal not only put them in the lead, but it also boosted the team’s morale and helped them to keep going and play hard for the rest of the game.
Although the women’s soccer team are all-stars on the field during game time, the hard work they put in everyday behind the scenes does impact the way they play. Thanks to the Hawks, the Jersey Shore is now home to the nation’s longest at-home winning streak, winning their last 12 home games. Monmouth is now 22-0-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) at Hesse Field and have outscored their opponents 57-6.
The Hawks will be on the road again as they travel to Iona on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 3:00 p.m.
PHOTO COURTESY of Karlee Sell
