Double Match Day For FC Monmouth
FC Monmouth take their second trip to Pennsylvania this season as they’re set to square off against the West Chester Predators tonight at 4 pm.
Now officially at the halfway point in the season, all games that FC Monmouth play are reverse fixtures of the first half.
Monmouth and WC battled in the Blue and Gold’s first home of the season in which Monmouth was victorious with a 3-1 win.
The game was a rainy one that was largely determined by who could navigate the unattractive weather better. FC Monmouth’s attacking stars hailing from Rowan University, Davi Caputo and Johnny Troiano, did just that.
Caputo and Troiano both scored and assisted one another. Caputo’s goal was a delightful chip over the WC goalkeeper. The brilliant play of the duo inspired Monmouth to grind out a huge three points.
Fast forward nearly a month later, and the teams are at much different points in the season.
FC Monmouth are following up on a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at the hands of Jackson Lions FC. The game was a tableshifter and a true battle for the second seed.
“I think we deserved a little more last week but that’s football,” said FC Monmouth’s Head Coach, John Killick.
The club now has to win in order to keep themselves within pecking position of that final playoff spot up for grabs.
WC Predators, meanwhile, and aiming to win so they can effectively get themselves out of bottom on the league table. The club has the opportunity to shoot up the table if they pick up a vital three points today.
FC Monmouth’s Head Coach, John Killick, is ready for the challenge.
“It’s a big game for us to rebound from the tough loss last week. We need to go back to work tomorrow and bring home a victory. We had a great week of practice and I am very positive for the game.”
FC Monmouth’s centre back pairing of Aidan Flynn and Mason Martelloni have been strongholds all season. Flynn is from Seattle, Washington and has experience playing in the Portland Timbers youth setup before coming to New Jersey to play for Rutgers. Martelloni on the other hand is a Monmouth Regional graduate who attended Manhattan College and has since transferred to Rowan where he’s blossomed into a star.
The attack headlined by Troiano, Caputo, as well as Danny Bensch need to step up to the plate yet again.
Troiano’s brace in the last match out against Jackson injected him with a much needed boost of confidence. His play will dictate how the FC Monmouth attack produces.
Caputo and Bensch have all been lively figures in the attack, making great runs for Troiano to consistently slip behind the defense.
On the women’s side, the squad is coming off of a brief outing up in Cedar Grove. A match that was called off due to lighning after 25 minutes when FC Monmouth had a 1-0 lead. This match was preceded by a staple 4-0 inaugural match win for the squad.
The shutout was held down by Rutgers goalkeeper Cam Kennet, who is heading into her senior year for the Scareltt Knights as well as Saige Santa Cruz.. Forward Juliana Caccamo, locally of Howell and playing at Monmouth University, also bagged the first goal in the club’s history.
The women have a tone of momentum going out to Pennsylvania, although the Ukrainians will be no short task. Currently sitting on 4 points in a tight knit Mid-Atlantic West Conference in the WPSL. The Ukrainians will be looking to give FC Monmouth a test on their home field.
Both kickoffs are at 7PM with neither game being live-streamed.
To follow along with updates of the game on social media, follow @wearemonmouth
To buy tickets for FC Monmouth’s next home match against Philadelphia Union DS, visit fcmonmouth.com/tickets