WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAMS OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY; MONMOUTH, SPFA, QUINNIPIAC START 2-0
Northeast Conference play began last week in women’s soccer. Three teams—Monmouth, Saint Francis (PA) and Quinnipiac—started off undefeated, winning both of their games this weekend. The last time that Quinnipiac started off league play 2-0 was in 2007, while Monmouth starts off 2-0 for the sixth year straight.
• One Goal Wins: Six of the nine conference games this weekend were decided by a score of 1-0. Both of Monmouth’s games were one-goal wins, against Central Connecticut and Bryant. Quinnipiac also had two 1-0 victories, against Fairleigh Dickinson and Central Connecticut. In both the Hawk’s and the Bobcats wins against Central Connecticut, it was the first career goal for freshman Brianne Boyle (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) of Monmouth, and junior Taylor Healey (Milford, CT/Laurelton Hall). Sacred Heart also notched a one-goal win, over Fairleigh Dickinson.
• Title Game Rematch: In a rematch of 2011’s NEC Championship game, Saint Francis (PA) avenged their loss, edging out LIU Brooklyn, 1-0. The Red Flash also defeated Mount St. Mary’s for a 2-0 week.
• New Beginnings: Bryant started off their first season eligible for NEC post-season play since moving to Division I competition with a 2-0 win over Wagner on Friday before falling to Monmouth on Sunday.
• Hat-Tricks: Mount St. Mary’s was the only team to play a non-conference game this week, and added another tally in the win column. The Mount took down Delaware State, 3-1, in Dover, DE. Jackie Corley (Bowie, MD/Bishop McNamara) scored all three goals. The last Mount player to record a hat trick was Karyn Farrar, who scored four times in a win over Saint Peter’s on September 18, 2005. Corley’s hat trick was just the seventh in program history.
• National Statistics: NEC players and teams earned spots in the top-30 on several NCAA statistics rankings, all in defensive categories, in games through Sept. 16. Goalkeeper Chelsea de Jager (Grimsby, Ontario/Governor Simcoe), of Robert Morris, ranked 22nd in total saves, with 52. Another goalkeeper, Sage DoVale (Lithburn, GA/Collins Hill) of Fairleigh Dickinson, ranked 29th in goalie minutes played with 870. Quinnipiac was ranked 30th in shutout percentage (.571). NCAA rankings are reported on Tuesdays.
• Helping Hand: Reigning NEC Player of the Year hand a hand in every goal in Saint Francis (PA)’s win over Mount St. Mary’s on Friday. This is the second time this year that McKibben has contributed on all offensive plays, previously chipping in a seven-point effort against Bucknell.
• Defense on Offense: Defender Alexa Freguletti (Mahwah NJ, Mahwah) of Monmouth has scored a goal twice this season, including the game-winner against Central Connecticut. It was also the second game-winning tally of her career. Taylor Healey, who scored Quinnipiac’s lone goal against Central Connecticut, is also a defender.
• Winning Streaks: Saint Francis (PA) has now won three straight games in a row, putting them over .500 for the first time this season with a record of (5-4-1). They also extend their home NEC unbeaten streak to 15 games. The Red Flash has not lost to a league team at home since Oct. 18, 2009.
• NEC Front Row: Two women’s soccer games, Saint Francis vs. Mount St. Mary’s and Wagner vs. Bryant will be broadcast live on Friday on NEC Front Row (www.NECFrontRow.com), the league’s new digital network. Games will also be available on-demand.
• Women’s Soccer HQ: For the latest on the goings on in the NEC and all things women’s soccer visit www.northeastconference.org. You can also follow the league on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube (@NECsports) as well as the NEC Overtime! blog (necovertime.com).
Top Performers of the Week
• Jackie Corley (Mount St. Mary’s)
Corley became the first Mount player to record a hat trick since 2005 when she had three goals in the Mount’s 3-1 win at Delaware State on Sunday. Corley scored twice in the first half, and put the game away with her third goal of the game in the second half. Corley now has eight points this season on three goals and two assists.
• Alexa Freguletti (Monmouth)
Freguletti registered the game-winning goal in Monmouth’s game at Central Connecticut State on Friday night, heading in a corner kick service from Dana Costello, for her second goal in as many games, and her second career game-winning tally. She also played a major role defensively in Monmouth’s 1-0 victory over Bryant on Sunday. Freguletti, who ranks second on the team with two goals, has started all 10 games for the Hawks.
Milestone Watch
• Monmouth
With its NEC victory at CCSU on Friday night, the Monmouth women’s soccer program notched its 100th league victory in program history.
Quotable
• Bryant
“Conference road games are always tough...And even though it would have been great to pick up some points today, we will take the split.”
-Head Coach Chris Flint after weekend play
• Monmouth
“We have talked about being a force on the road and tonight we demonstrated our potential. Dana [Costello] served a great ball and I timed it right to put it away.”
-Alexa Freguletti on the win over CCSU