After winning the MAAC title, the University’s men’s soccer team concluded their season falling 2-1 in double overtime to Xavier University during the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday, Nov. 20 in Cincinnati.
MU beat Fairfield 2-1 in double overtime in the MAAC Championship to earn their spot in the NCAA Tournament this year. Upon the win, senior central defender and team captain Matt Jeffery told the Asbury Park Press, “It’s great to be going back, to finish my college career in the NCAA Tournament. It’s kind of a dream come true for me, having missed out the last two seasons and to be able to go back is a great feeling.”
The game marked MU’s fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in nine seasons.
Prior to the game, head coach Rob McCourt told the Asbury Park Press, “We believe. The one thing I kept saying to the guys when we had the injuries and a tough spell is that I believed in the group, and they believed in each other and just kept fighting. There’s no reason to think we can’t go get a result at Xavier.”
The Hawks (11-4-6) entered the game ready to fight for a win, only beaten one time in their last 13 games despite four starters being sidelined in late Sept. due to injuries. Xavier (14-5-2) had lost to Providence in the Big East final on Sunday, but came in determined as well.
In the 15th minute of the game, the blue and white lost the ball at the midfield, where Xavier took advantage and moved down the right side of the field towards goal.
A cross was sent to center field, where a Xavier forward collected the ball and sent a shot from ten yards out past MU’s sophomore goalie Eric Klenofsky to the left side of the net.
The Hawks did not let up and dominated possession of the ball, evening the game in the 39th minute. Junior defender Derek Luke shot a corner towards the left side of the goal, where Jeffery flicked the ball on with his left heel to senior central defender Emmanuel Agyemang, whose shot the ball low towards the right post and in to the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
In the final seconds of the first half, Klenofsky made a diving save on another Xavier attempt to keep the score 1-1.
Xavier started off the second half with three shots in 15 minutes, dominating with scoring chances. The first shot in the 52nd minute soared just wide of the right post and the second shot in the 60th minute was saved by Klenofsky.
MU picked up tempo again after Xavier’s attempts on goal and dominated possession in Xavier’s half of the field, but they were unable to capitalize on any goals.
Senior forward Dom Sarle shot just high of the net in the 70th minute and MU earned a free kick outside the 18-yard box in the 72nd minute. Junior midfielder and captain David Acuna Camacho and junior defender John Egan both had shots blocked by Xavier.
Xavier combatted again, attempting shots on Klenofsky in the 75th and 84th minutes. The Hawks opposed in the 87th minute, when Luke shot a free kick just high of the goal. The second half ended with a 1-1 tie.
Coach McCourt knew it would not be an easy win. Before the game, McCourt told the Asbury Park Press, “Xavier is a really organized team that is tough to break down. They lost Big East final to Providence, and Providence is fantastic this year, so it will be a tough game for sure.”
The first overtime began with MU sending two crosses in to the box, but the Xavier goalkeeper intercepted both. In the 100th minute, Xavier earned a corner and a shot was blocked by Klenofsky. Still tied up, the teams prepared for double overtime.
Two minutes in to the second overtime, Klenofsky blocked a shot by Xavier. Xavier dominated in shots 17-9, with 4-0 shots in overtime. Unable to recover and save a second shot off the rebound, Xavier scored a golden goal to end the game.
The golden goal concluded the Hawks’s season, deeming Xavier the first opponent to break down MU’s nationally-ranked defense and score two goals since the second game of the season on Sept. 1 against Lehigh University.
Despite the loss, McCourt told the Monmouth Athletic Department, “It would be difficult to find a more proud coach than me in all of college soccer. These young men gave everything they had tonight and just came up short. They are disappointed tonight, but when they look back, they will realize what a fantastic season we had.”
PHOTO COURTESY of Taylor Jackson
