FC Monmouth Erases Four-Goal Halftime Deficit In 4-4 Draw Versus First State FC
RED BANK, NJ – After trailing 4-0 at halftime, FC Monmouth (2-1-2) used four second half goals, including two after the 90th minute, to come out with a 4-4 draw against First State FC (1-4-1).
After FC Monmouth recorded the first two shots of the game, First State FC had a strong response with two goals in the opening ten minutes. Their offensive run continued shortly after, as they recorded eight-straight shots over roughly 25 minutes. Two more goals in the 33rd and 38th minute made the halftime score 4-0.
FC Monmouth came out strong to begin the second half, as forward Josh Hesson scored his second goal of the season off a feed from midfielder Colin Lankau. After 16 minutes of play with limited opportunities for each side, FC Monmouth struck again. Lankau converted on a shot from over 20 yards out to make the score 4-2 in favor of First State FC.
With the game passing the 90th minute, FC Monmouth continued to climb back. A long throw-in went off the hands of the First State FC goalkeeper, then the crossbar, and instantly found the head of midfielder Chase Covello. His header found the back of the net, cutting the deficit to one. Shortly after, forward Alexander Navarrete drew a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick. As time was winding down, defender Zachary Pereira converted it to even the score at four.
First State FC made one final push, but FC Monmouth stood strong until the final whistle.
AT THE MICROPHONE
“Going into the match, we knew what their pace was, and it is rapid all across the field and especially up front. We talked about it before the match, but at halftime we made some key adjustments as well as some key mental adjustments. I thought the guys did a great job of handling it and I thought they did a great job coming together as a team because of the adversity that they faced.” – Head Coach Brian Woods
“At halftime we got to reassess and look at each other and ask, ‘What do we want to do this year, what do we want to accomplish?’ When we came to the conclusion of going far and potentially winning this, we decided that this is one of the games we need points from. We decided from there that when we step on the field for the second half that we were going to get a result. We went out there, we did the job, and we did what we were supposed to do, so we’re proud of that.” – Defender Zachary Pereira
“We started very slowly going down 4-0 at half, and at halftime we knew we had to do better. I think that the subs that came on brought a lot of energy to the game and really made an impact. I think that we will go into the next matches with a ton of confidence. Not many teams can say that they went down 4-0 and came back to get a result, so I think we can take this into the next game and go from there.” – Midfielder Colin Lankau
NOTES AND NUMBERS
Saturday’s game marked the first time in club history that FC Monmouth erased a multi-goal deficit to tie a game.
FC Monmouth extended its point streak to four games, one away from tying the all-time mark of five. The club set that record during the 2019 season, going 4-0-1 during a three week stretch.
The four second half goals marked the third time in club history that FC Monmouth scored four or more goals in a half. The other two instances occurred in the game against Torch FC on May 29.
FC Monmouth has scored 18 goals through five games, which ties their entire season total from 2019 as well as the club record for most goals in a season.
Pereira’s goal was the first of his FC Monmouth career. That adds to his season in which he already set the club’s all-time record for games played.
The penalty kick for FC Monmouth was the first of the season and fourth in club history. The last came on June 8, 2019 against Hershey FC.
Goalkeeper Trevor Zabilowicz recorded five saves in his first start of the season. It sets a new career single-game record for him, with his previous being three (June 15, 2019).
Both of Lankau’s goals this season have come from at least 20 yards out. The only other player in club history to have multiple goals from that far out is Bryant Knibbs.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
FC Monmouth will hit the road to face in-state rival FC Motown on Saturday, June 12. The game is a rematch of the 2021 season opener, which FC Motown won 2-0. Kickoff from Drew University is slated for 7:00 p.m.