Last week, the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) named two Monmouth University athletes as their soccer Rookies of the Week. Arturo McConnochie was named for the men’s team while Liza Suydam was named for the women’s team.
McConnochie was named for the second consecutive week after his performances in the Hawks’ wins against St. Joseph’s and Delaware. He was able to convert his only shot in the game away at Delaware into a goal to give them a 2-0 lead in the second half. This season, McConnochie has participated in five games and recorded two goals and one assist. He has also recorded seven overall shots, five of which were on target.
When asked about what McConnochie has brought to the team this year, Head Coach Robert McCourt explained, “Arturo is a very skillful and dynamic player. He helps us break down defenses by beating his defenders in 1v1 duels as well as making runs in behind the oppositions back four. Arturo also has shown that he has been able to create goal scoring chances through his creativity and athleticism.”
This is Liza Suydam’s first CAA Rookie of the Week award in her career. Suydam is the co-leading scorer on the women’s soccer team this year along with fellow freshman Loren Gehret. Suydam’s fourth goal of the season came as the game winner in the Hawks’ 1-0 win over Stony Brook. This was her second game-winning goal for the team this season. Suydam had three shots on goal in the Hawks’ 1-0 win at Delaware and has recorded 21 shots in her nine games this season, 11 of which were on target.
Suydam is an integral part of the women’s soccer team this season. Head Coach Kylee Flynn explains, “Liza has a great understanding of soccer which allows her to be in the right place at the right time and her ability to finish the ball is quality, hence her four goals on the year! She also has great vision and is able to provide excellent distribution in and around our attacking third. Defensively, Liza is great at anticipating the next pass; picking it off or winning the tackle.”
On Sept. 26, the men’s team faced the Princeton Tigers on Hesse Field. The Tigers held a 2-0 advantage at halftime. Ben Zakowski was able to score his eighth goal of the season in the 54th minute of the game. The Hawks kept the pressure on the Tigers until the end, but it ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Hawks after a hard fought contest.
Saturday night, Sept. 30, the men’s soccer team took on the College of Charleston in a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play. The Hawks were awarded a penalty kick in the eighth minute of the game after a Charleston handball in the box was called. Ben Zakowski took the penalty kick for the Hawks and put it into the upper corner to give his team a 1-0 advantage.
Before halftime Charleston was awarded a penalty kick, but Eryk Dymora was able to keep the ball out of the net. The Hawks held their 1-0 advantage at the end of the half. Monmouth was able to double their advantage in the 74th minute when Chris Morandi was able to score his first goal of the season and fourth of his career. In the 83rd minute, the visitors were able to get on the board, but that was all they were able to get as the game finished as a 2-1 win for the Hawks. With this win, the Hawks stay head to head in CAA play this season with a record of 2-0-2.
Last week, the women’s team faced Elon University on Hesse Field. In the first half both teams had chances but were not able to convert them into goals. The teams then went into the halftime break tied 0-0. However, in the 69th minute, Maddison Perna was able to intercept an Elon clearance. She settled the ball and played it to Loren Gehret who fired a shot past the keeper into the corner. After their goal, the Hawks only allowed Elon to have one shot on goal in the final 20 minutes. The Hawks prevailed 1-0 in their shutout win.
On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1, the Hawks traveled to Philadelphia to play Drexel University. The two teams went into the break tied together at 0-0, but with both teams creating opportunities in the second half, it was the Hawks that were able to break through. In the 65th minute, Gehret played a cross into the box where Julia Evernham was waiting and able to put the ball in the back of the net. This proved to be enough to give the Hawks the 1-0 win and their sixth straight shutout of the season. Cassie Coster recorded a season-high nine saves along with the sixteenth shutout of her career. The Hawks continue to be undefeated in CAA play this season with a record of 5-0-1.
