The Stony Brook women’s soccer team picked a bad time to have its worst offensive showing of the year.
The Seawolves (3-3-4, 1-2-2 CAA) traveled to West Long Branch, N.J. on Sunday to take on the conference’s preseason favorite: the Monmouth Hawks (4-3-1, 3-0-1 CAA). Stony Brook took only seven shots and landed only two on target on the afternoon, ultimately falling 1-0.
During the first half, the Seawolves outshot the Hawks 5-4 and won three more corner kicks to help push the envelope. Forward Reilly Rich continued to be the team’s top producer with two total shots and one on goal. However, Monmouth came out strong in the second half and put pressure on Stony Brook that changed the tide of the game.
The Hawks broke the ice in the 59th minute when midfielder Liza Suydam ripped one past goalkeeper Nicolette Pasquarella off an assist from fellow midfielder Julia Evernham. Suydam’s goal was her fourth of the season, and it was all Monmouth needed to secure the three points.
The Seawolves were unable to muster up anything on the offensive side of the pitch after halftime. They did not win a single corner in the second half and could not generate a shot on goal until the 75th minute, when defender Catharina von Drigalski’s shot was saved by Monmouth goalkeeper Cassie Coster. Stony Brook did not attempt another shot after that and played the rest of the match on its heels.
Pasquarella made five saves after Suydam’s goal to keep her team in striking distance, but the lack of offense wasted her stout performance. She was the Seawolves’ top performer on Sunday, as she recorded a season-high eight total stops.
The Hawks outshot the Seawolves 14-7 and landed seven shots on target. It was only the second time all season that Stony Brook surrendered more shots than it attempted.
Since the Seawolves’ season opener, they had not taken fewer than 11 total shots in a match, nor had they landed anything lower than six shots on goal during that stretch. Forward Luciana Setteducate and Rich co-led the team with two shots each. Forward Graceann Murphy, defender Grace Cagnina and von Drigalski each contributed one shot.
Suydam and Evernham spearheaded Monmouth’s offense from the middle of the field. Evernham led the group with five shots and landed four of them on target, yet she walked away without a goal. Suydam attempted three shots. Her game-winning goal was her second of that kind this year.
By saving both of the shots she faced, Coster claimed her fifth clean sheet of the season, which is two more than any other goalie in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
Stony Brook will remain on the road this Thursday when it takes on the Towson Tigers in Maryland. The Tigers sit atop the CAA table, as they are 8-1-1 on the season and 4-0-1 in conference play after beating Drexel 5-3 on Sunday. Opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
