By Danny Contreras
A Jewel Robinson goal in the first half and a late second half goal from CCSU’s leading scorer Beth Lloyd lifted the Blue Devils (6-7-1, 2-2-1 NEC) to a victory over Monmouth University, 2-0.
At the 38 minute, a frustrated Monmouth fouled CCSU striker Brittany Jackson top of the penalty box for a direct free-kick. It was taken by right-back Robinson who swerved the ball past the Monmouth, placing it the bottom right corner past the posts to give the lead to the Blue Devils 1-0.
The score was doubled when striker Beth Lloyd received a magnificent through ball from Kerrian Welch which was then drilled into the top right corner of the Monmouth goal—tormenting the already frustrated Monmouth goalkeeper.
“Monmouth are the reigning NEC champions so it was very reassuring for our young team to play so well against them and earn a victory,” said Head Coach Mick D’Arcy.
Coming from a big win against St. Mary’s this Friday the Blue Devils entered the game with high morale. The typical 3-3-4 formation for CCSU looked like the worse formation to use against Monmouth who applied the more typical 2-4-4 formation. In the first five minutes of the match, the Blue Devils’ back-line was in constant motion as Monmouth unleashed a barrage of attacks that tested the CCSU goalkeeper, Nikola Deiter.
Monmouth’s momentum quickly came to an end when the Blue Devils counter attacked after a Monmouth midfield. CCSU defender Kerrian Welch brought the ball down the midfield and surgically placed a through ball for striker Brittany Jackson who was unable to control the ball and the shot came in too far up the crossbar.
Monmouth took a quick goal kick, which was met by the feet of lone forward, Mary Wilks. But the CCSU back-line held up pretty good and the ball went for a throw in. This was the last real chance Monmouth had against CCSU.
Robinson released herself from her marker and flew down the right flank and sped across the Monmouth half to pass it to center midfielder Welch who then passed it to Allison Kelley.
Kelley received the pass and quickly sent it to Lloyd who capitalized on a hole in the center of the Monmouth half and passed it back to Kelley who had a clear shot-on-goal; before she could take her shot, however, the Monmouth defense cleared it.
Monmouth was a complete mess against CCSU’s passing game. The Hawks were becoming tired as the midfielders enjoyed possession on both halves.
“Playing in a 1-4-3-1-2 we always have plenty of attacking options with the exception of the incidences when we bring every back on defense to clear corners,” he said about the offensive style of play CCSU employed.
By the 22 minute, CCSU had enjoyed approximately 70% of possession. The Hawks ran from half to half in chase of the ball. This was evident when Lloyd took the ball from one of the defenders and was able to take a shot-on-goal, but the finish was poor and the ball went out wide.
At 24 minutes, Monmouth had a chance to get in the lead from a free kick, but the ball went right into the hands of Deiter. The keeper cleared the ball away which was received by Lloyd who then passed it to Brittany Jackson, but was unable to take the shot because of the Monmouth backline. Minutes later Jackson grabbed a dead ball from Monmouth penalty box but her efforts went for a corner kick.
CCSU had another chance to lead the game when Robinson unleashed herself from the right, past two midfielders and a defender and crossed the ball in the penalty box for Lloyd to take her shot however went out over the crossbar.
CCSU started the game exactly the way it ended it, with control of possession.
Lloyd made a run down the right and crossed it in for Kelley who was unable to control the ball and quickly took a shot, but the ball went out miles away from the goal. The first fifteen minutes of the second half was dominated by the CCSU forwards with the Blue Devils out-shooting the Hawks 6-1.
Knowing the game was in their control the fifteen minutes of the half was kept with a lot of passing between the midfielders and the defense, with Robinson and Kelley connecting harmoniously in the game.
“It was also great to have so many home supporters. It’s tremendous motivation to the players when they know the student body is there to cheer them on. I was delighted that the team was able to reward the home support with a big victory.”
Most of CCSU’s possession seemed to have just come out of the locker room while Monmouth seemed tired and lethargic. Even though the game was a two nil game, it seemed as if the lead was four nil.
CCSU comes back to CCSU Oct. 24 to take on NEC rivals Bryant at 3 p.m.
