Monmouth men’s soccer team finished their 2017 campaign with a 4-0 victory over Niagara at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn last Wednesday. This improved their final record to 7-9-2 and 4-5-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.
“It was a great way for the seniors to finish their careers,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “I am eternally grateful to them for their commitment to our program. They have had amazing careers.”
It took less than five minutes for the Hawks to edge themselves in front. Senior midfielder Jake Areman sprinted down the left wing and delivered a precise cross on the ground into the box. Sophomore midfielder Geoffrey Schaefer was there to send it past the keeper with pace from point-blank range to make it 1-0. Areman nearly added a goal to his resume minutes later, but a strong save was made by Niagara’s senior goalkeeper Joel Gerberich.
The hosts doubled their grip on the game just before the half hour mark. Following a free kick close to the corner flag, redshirt senior midfielder Colin Stripling sent a low ball into the box at the near post. Sophomore defender Ryan Wells fought off a Niagara defender to hold his ground in front of him and deflected the ball off of the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net from right in front of the goal line.
Monmouth extended their lead over Niagara to three goals before halftime. From a position near the sideline, junior defender Zachary Pereira bent a cross into the penalty area. Sophomore midfielder George Akampeke darted into the box, jumped up, and volleyed the cross inside of the right post, leaving the keeper with no chance at a save.
Niagara looked for a way back into the game throughout the second half. Monmouth senior goalkeeper Chris Seager, who was given the start for the last game of his career, was forced into making a save in both the 62nd and 72nd minutes. Seager’s second save was a diving effort in which he was able to fully catch the ball after Niagara freshman midfielder Danilo Pekovic curled a shot from outside of the box in search of the far corner.
“I’m speechless [about my four years at Monmouth],” said Seager. “I’m beyond thankful for the coaching staff and for every player I’ve played with over four years. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Monmouth wrapped up the match by adding a fourth goal to their tally in the 81st minute. Niagara freshman defender Brian Barry attempted to clear an aerial ball out of the box by looping it away from goal with his head. He was unable to get enough power on his clearance and the ball fell right to the foot of freshman forward Jake Treiber, who smashed a volley into the bottom left corner of the goal with his first touch.
The goals of Wells, Akampeke, and Treiber were the first of their Monmouth careers. On the other end of the spectrum, the win over Niagara marked final career matches for seniors Stripling, Areman, and Seager, as well as defender Joey Gudzak and midfielder Andrew Gee.
Seager, who accumulated 21 saves in his seven career starts in goal, said, “Monmouth has shaped me into who I am, and it’s been an unbelievable experience being able to play here and represent Monmouth as a soccer player.”
PHOTO COURTESY of Karlee Sell
