Monmouth's Mary Wilks scored 1:02 into overtime to top#1 seed
Central Connecticut 1-0 on Sunday in the 2009 Northeast Conference
Championship game. With the loss the Blue Devils end their season
with a 12-7-2 record. Three Blue Devils were named to the NEC
All-Tournament Team, including seniors Leah Blayney and Caity
Casey and junior Clio Tregear. The loss is
the first at home for the Blue Devils in the last 17 games.
Neither team could find the goal in the first half, but the Blue
Devils had a couple of chances.
Freshman Erin
Egan's cross in front of the goal in the 35th minute just
missed teammate Cara
Cavallari who would have had a good look at the goal. Blayney
had a pair of chances in the first half, one that was saved by the
Monmouth keeper. A second attempt went just high on a shot just
outside the box.
The Blue Devils held a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal in the first
half. Casey made a pair of saves in the first half. Monmouth
keeper Lia Fierro made one.
Monmouth threatened in the first five minutes of the second half.
On a corner kick, the ball was loose in front of the net and
Central's Abby Graham finally headed
the ball out of the box to stop the scoring chance. The corner
kick led to a shot that off the crossbar for the Hawks, leading to
the action in front of the goal.
Wilks had a shot with just over three minutes to play in
regulation, off a turnover by the Blue Devils at midfield. Her
shot went just high over the goal and the game remained
scoreless.
Wilks scored the game-winner just over a minute into overtime. She
took a feed from Alessandra Detata and beat Casey to the high right
side of the goal for the 1-0 victory.
Monmouth wins the title for the second time in three seasons. The
Blue Devils lose for just the second time ever in the conference
final, falling to 7-2 all-time in championship games.
Monmouth finished the game with a slight 13-12 edge in shots.
Casey had three saves as did Monmouth's Fierro.
