A season that began with a bang ended with a whimper Friday, as the top-seeded men’s soccer team fell at home in the first round of its conference tournament.
Monmouth University, the regular season Northeast Conference champs, won’t be back in the NCAA tournament this year. The once nationally-ranked team was stunned by Central Connecticut State (7-8-3), which scored with under five minutes left to play.
Despite having a losing record, CCSU just three weeks earlier ended the Blue Hawks’ 24-game unbeaten streak at home.
But records -- and appearances -- can be deceiving.
“Overall, it was a good year,” said junior midfielder John Castro. “But, in the end, we lacked character and cohesion.”
Monmouth finishes the year at 12-5-2. The team opened the season by defeating then-No. 16 ranked North Carolina in the Carolina Nike Classic. Up until two weeks ago, Monmouth was ranked 31st among all Div. 1 teams and 1st among teams in the North Atlantic Region, according to a poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
In recent weeks, however, the squad faltered, losing three of its final five games to teams with losing records.
The heart-wrenching loss marked the final game in blue and white for senior standouts Michael Millar, a first team All-NEC selection;
Tom Gray, a preseason All-American; and
Damon Wilson, the team’s leading scorer. Also graduating are Predraq Brasic, Chris Ell, John Feery and Daniel Schenkel.
On a bright note, the team returns 13 players next season, including a defense anchored by junior Angelo Amato and sophomore Daniel Bostock, both second team All-NEC selections. At the helm will be Coach Rob McCourt, the NEC’s Coach of the Year. The coach is credited with transforming the program from a doormat to a power.
-Natalie Whalen
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