Championship
#1 Long Island 0, #2 Central Conn. St. 1
Brooklyn, NY -- Central Connecticut State (12-6-4, 7-2 NEC) head coach Mick D'Arcy's 100th win was an exceptionally memorable one as his Blue Devil squad captured the 2008 NEC Women's Soccer Tournament title with a 1-0 upset over top-seeded Long Island (16-4-1, 9-0 NEC) on a windy Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn.
After an intense scoreless first half in which both teams had opportunities to take the lead, CCSU junior midfielder, Leah Blayney (Katoomba, New South Wales/Auburn University) capitalized on a long ball sent by Abby Graham (Mullica Hill, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) to net the game's lone goal and eventual gamewinner in the 52nd minute. Graham's pass sent Blayney into open space as she slipped between LIU defenders and flicked the ball past an onrushing Amy Johnson (Maryland Heights, MO/St. Louis CC), who came off her line to try to avert the attempt.
With the slim one-goal margin, the Blue Devils stood strong to keep the Blackbirds off the scoreboard despite multiple close calls. Perhaps the most spectacular save of the day came in the 77th minute from the 2008 NEC Tournament MVP, senior Erin Herd (Coffs Harbour, Australia/Orara), who got a finger on what looked to be the equalizer for the hosting Blackbirds following a free kick service. Herd got just enough on the ball to tip it up and over the crossbar and preserve her second shutout of the tournament.
As time wound down, CCSU came close to adding an insurance marker on a transition after an LIU corner kick opportunity was broken up, leaving the defense out of position. Sophomore midfielder Clio Tregear (West Sussex, England/Oaklands College) made a run with the ball down the right wing and sent a cross to Blayney on the far side, but the pass was just out of Blayney's reach as it rolled across the sideline and out of bounds.
The Blackbirds continued to apply pressure, fighting for the tying score and almost got it with just over one minute left when junior Kim Bishop (Valley Stream, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) got a head on senior defender and all-NEC first team honoree, Nicole Allen's (Spencer, MA/David Prouty) corner kick service, but the attempt went over the top.
Semifinal #1
#1 Long Island 3, #4 Fairleigh Dickinson 0
Brooklyn, NY -- Top-seeded Long Island advanced to Sunday's championship game in the NEC Women's Soccer Tournament with a 2-0 semifinal triumph over fourth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday and Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn.
After playing a majority of the first half to a scoreless draw, Long Island (16-3-1) sophomore forward Lara Martinez (West Chester, OH/Lakota East) broke the ice when she converted a Nicole Allen (Spencer, MA/David Prouty) corner kick in the 41st minute.
The Blackbirds proceeded to come out in the second stanza firing, applying tireless pressure on the Knights' defense. Just over five minutes into the second half, sophomore Kayleigh Morgan (Harlow, England) followed her own rebound and deposited her second attempt past FDU senior goalkeeper Rachel Derrico (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan), who came off her line to break up the opportunity. Amanda Wheeler (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), a senior defender for the Knights, tried to keep Morgan's shot from hitting the back of the net, but the ball already crossed the goal line before she could get there.
The Blackbirds maintained the offensive surge, resulting in their third and final marker of the contest in the 76th minute compliments of Samantha Post (Littleton, CO/Heritage). The sophomore forward finished a cross from the left side to close out the scoring and secure the LIU victory, as the squad remains undefeated (10-0) in NEC play.
Senior keeper Amy Johnson (Maryland Heights, MO/St. Louis CC) stopped two shots between the pipes for the Blackbirds, while Derrico made four saves for the Knights, who finished their season with an 8-11 record.
LIU will participate in the NEC Championship match on Sunday, November 9 at Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, NY. Kick-off is slated for noon.
Semifinal #2
#2 Central Connecticut State 2, #3 Monmouth 0
Brooklyn, NY -- The second-seeded Central Connecticut State women’s soccer team advanced to its fifth Northeast Conference Championship game in seven seasons with a 2-0 shutout win over third-seeded Monmouth in the semifinals on Friday afternoon at Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, NY.
The Blue Devils, now 11-6-4 on the campaign, posted their 11th shutout of the season, setting a new school record for shutouts in a season. They advance to Sunday’s championship game at 12:00 pm versus top-seeded Long Island. Junior Rachel Caneen (Stafford Springs, CT/Stafford) scored both goals for CCSU in the win.
Monmouth (14-4-1) had a chance to strike first in the games 12th minute. Senior Joni DeMoor (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) was pulled down inside the box and the Hawks were awarded a penalty kick at 11:52, but CCSU senior goalkeeper Erin Herd (Coffs Harbour, Australia/Orara) dove to her right to stop Andrea Lopez's (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) attempt and keep the game scoreless. The Blue Devils would answer less than five minutes later to take an early lead.
Caneen struck first for the second-seeded Blue Devils at 16:04 into the first half. She fed a ball into the box to freshman teammate Brittany Jackson (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand), but it sailed over Jackson’s head. Caneen, who had continued into the box, took the ball and beat Monmouth keeper Lia Fierro (Short Hills, NJ/Millburn) to the lower right half of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Less than 2:30 minutes later Caneen struck again, scoring her 12th goal of the season. She took a feed from sophomore Beth Lloyd (Reading, England.Oaklands College), this time to the right of the goal, and scored through the left side for the 2-0 lead at 18:41. The goal was the 24th of Caneen’s career, moving her into solo possession of fourth place on the CCSU all-time goals list.
Following the second goal, Herd made another crucial stop for the Blue Devils in the 25th minute, denying Lopez once again after a feed from DeMoor.
Herd’s shutout was her seventh of the season. She made five saves in the game, including the key penalty kick stop in the first half.
The Blue Devils were outshot by the Hawks 7-5, and Monmouth had the edge in corner kicks 13-10.
CCSU will play for its seventh NEC title on Sunday at noon in Brooklyn, NY versus #1 Long Island. The Blackbirds defeated the Blue Devils 1-0 earlier this season.