The Monmouth University women’s soccer team is back at it again picking up their first win of the 2019 season this past Friday night, Sept. 6, against the Farleigh Dickenson University (FDU) Knights at University Stadium in Teaneck, NJ.
The Hawks won with a 1-0 sweep, adding to their 13-game winning streak in their series against FDU. They lead the all-time series 17-1-2.
During the first 45 minutes of the match, Monmouth attempted eight shots on goal, half of which came from fifth year forward Madie Gibson. Gibson’s four shots on goal is a team-high for the Hawks. In the seventh minute Gibson found her way behind FDU defensive lines and attacked with her second shot on goal, but FDU senior goalkeeper Amanda Fitzgerald recorded a save on the attempt.
In the 11th minute of the game the Knights created their first opportunity for scoring when they earned a corner kick executed by sophomore midfielder Lea Egner. For the next ten minutes both teams had possession of the ball but it wasn’t until the 20th minute of the match where FDU freshman midfielder Naemi Hausen attempted an in-play shot on goal. However, Monmouth’s senior goalkeeper Amanda Knaub snagged the attempt.
Both the Hawks and the Knights had corner kicks and shot on goal opportunities throughout the rest of the first period, but neither team was successful in their attempts.
During the beginning of the second period, Gibson and senior forward Dana Scheriff perused back to back shots on goal, but again, Fitzgerald deterred both of them.
It was not until the 82nd minute of the game when the first and only goal of the match was scored by Monmouth. Freshman forward Lauren Karabin scored her first-career goal wearing blue and white to advance her team to the 1-0 eventual shutout against the Knights.
“It was an all-around great team effort all game,” said Karabin. “It was really exciting to be able to score and get the first win of the year.”
The goal was assisted by Scheriff who found Karabin to the left of the goal, when the ball found her, she quickly sent a shot to the right corner of the net, past Fitzgerald’s attempted save.
Scheriff officially registered her first assist of the year and the 26th point of her collegiate career.
After Karabin’s goal, FDU created yet another corner kick opportunity. The ball made its way into the box and Egner went for the shot on goal but she sent it just over the top of the goal post.
The last shot on goal of the match was perused by FDU freshman midfielder Maja Skansberg, but it landed outside to the right of the goal post.
The Knights totaled six shots on goal with Hausen leading with a team-high of two attempts.
“We did get a lot of players substantial minutes and I feel that they did well for us in the time they played,” said FDU Head Coach Eric Teepe.
The Hawks concluded their first match of the 2019 season with a 23-6 advantage in shots, 8-1 shots on goal and an 8-4 dominance in corner kicks.
This 1-0 shutout allowed Knaub to collect her second clean sweep of the season, solidifying her 32nd career shutout.
“Tonight was a solid win on the road,” said Monmouth Head Coach Krissy Turner. “We created a lot of chances and limited their opportunities. Getting a shutout is extremely important as we inch closer to league play.”
Next up on the Hawks four-game away tour will be the Drexel University Dragons. The team will be traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to compete on Thursday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth Athletics
