Photo Credit: Mike Franco

Monmouth women's soccer shuts out UAlbany

On Sunday, the Monmouth Women's Soccer team faced UAlbany today at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn in their second game of the young season. The Hawks defeated the Great Danes, 3-0, improving to 2-0 under new head coach Kylee Flynn. 

So far this season, Monmouth has scored six goals and two clean sheets.

"They are legit," Flynn said after yet another impressive defensive effort. "That back line can be like a rotation of five awesome players, get it done. Halftime at Lehigh, there was no shots on goal. That was pretty impressive and ended with no shots on goal. Today was 13 shots but didn't feel like that many."

Cassandra Coster had a fantastic game for Monmouth in the net, making nine saves as she has yet to give up a goal this season. The sophomore goalkeeper got revenge on her old team after appearing in 12 games with five shutouts last season for UAlbany. 

Both teams were trying to find their way at the game's beginning. They combined for 24 fouls in the game today, and Monmouth took advantage of that. At the 7:07 mark, forward Rachel Ludwick opened up the scoring for Monmouth by placing it in the bottom right corner of the goal. Forwards Olivia Ramiz and Lauren Karabin assisted on the Ludwick goal.

At the 39:47 mark, Kayla Reed doubled the lead for Monmouth to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead right before the half. Then at the 63:40 mark, defender Carla Ford closed out the scoring with assists by Karabin and defender Lauren Bruno.

Karabin had great success finding her teammates for open shots and ensuring it was in the right area as she ran the offense effectively for Monmouth. The graduate student forward picked up her first assists of the afternoon as her production up top will be critical for the Hawks this season. As the season continues, she is a name to watch for Monmouth this year.

After the game, Jersey Sporting News got to interview head coach Kylee Flynn. She talked about the game and the team's 2-0 start this season.

"Anytime you can get a win on a Sunday game especially playing after a Friday/Sunday matchup a really tough weekend anytime that's out their college-level getting a win, a little sloppier, but pulled it out. Credit to UAlbany, they were organized," Flynn said.

Flynn also talked about being a head coach after being an assistant with Monmouth for almost a decade.

"It's great you know," Flynn said about becoming Monmouth's new head coach. "A little different role, but I feel like the game hasn't changed soccer is soccer and you just have to ride the different role and just make it work."

Flynn touched on Monmouth's move to the CAA from the MAAC and how it will affect the team.

"We haven't really done much yet, haven't played anybody, but the competition is definitely going to be a little tighter, just have to prepare, put our best foot forward," Flynn said

After winning the first two games, Flynn ended talking about the expectations for the rest of the season.

"Just keep preparing," Flynn said. "So recover, take tomorrow off, try to get back to work and keep doing what they are doing."