FC Monmouth at West Chester United SC Match Preview
The NPSL season-opener has dawned upon us, and the stakes could not be higher.
In a belter of an opening day match, FC Monmouth will take on West Chester United SC at 7pm at Kildares Turf Field, in a rematch of the 2021 NPSL Keystone Conference Semifinals from the season prior.
The Semifinal pitted underdogs FC Monmouth, in their first-ever playoff appearance, against the number one overall seed West Chester United SC, at their home turf, in what seemed a straightforward march to the finals for the hosts.
The statistics and teams on paper did not prevail, however, as FC Monmouth shocked the conference with a 3-1 dominant performance at the Eastern Pennsylvanian outfit. Two goals from former star Walter Calderon, the club’s all-time leading scorer, and an additional goal from Chase Covello was enough to send FC Monmouth through to the final.
Despite the previous triumph of last year, the outlook on this season’s match will be much harder to judge. FC Monmouth returns just five players from the 2021 season, in an attempt to welcome in new talent and in-turn, revamp the homegrown mentality that has seen the club reach loftier heights with each passing season, a philosophy that runs true and deep in the club’s structure.
Regardless of the stature of the playing staff, both new and returning, the approach to the match, and it’s historical significance between the two clubs, is not lost upon any of the 18-man roster that will make the trip to West Chester.
“We want to win,” began Head Coach John Killick, who will be manning his first-ever game in charge of the pride of the Jersey Shore.
“We are fully aiming for the three points. The boys have been preparing for this week-in and week-out. We know what we need to do- and we want to win.”
Here is the aforementioned 18-man roster that will be making the journey across the border to attempt and secure the three points:
#1 Jake Nicoll GK
#99 George Akampeke Defender
#7 Cameron Allen Midfielder
#13 Aime Amouzou Defender
#66 Rhys Cotter Midfielder
#8 Johnny Hart Midfielder
#12 Aniello Lubrano Midfielder
#17 Michael Mallon Midfielder
#33 A.J. Montana GK
#77 Louis Pennington Forward
#11 Mickael Rodriguez Forward
#25 T.J. Scollan Midfielder
#2 Brett Sieg Midfield
#4 Mussie Tesfay Defender #14 Sam Thombs Midfielder
#26 Christian Torres Midfielder
#27 Evan Walters Defender
Capturing the three points will be essential to starting the season off on a positive note, as there will be plenty of other stern tests soon to come, with the soonest being FC Monmouth’s home opener on May 21, against former friends turned foe Jackson Lions FC.
Whilst we are hoping to garner a great traveling support, the game will also be live streamed for those that cannot make the trip. The link to the live stream is as follows: https://elevensports.com/en/view/event/cl33d28g9x7m10jeom6nux2uj
FC Monmouth would like to thank all of its fans, staff, players, and sponsors for all of their hard work and support during the preseason. It is now time for all of that hard work to come to fruition! Let’s go Monmouth!
Kieffer Braisted is a writer and social media manager for FC Monmouth. Having graduated from Kean University with a degree in communications and journalism, Kieffer brings a plethora of experience to the FC Monmouth media team, and will be producing both written content and managing social media platforms for the club.