Monmouth 2024
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 2:58 pm
This Saturday Delaware heads up the Jersey Shore to play Monmouth University (3-2) for the seventh time. The Hens are 6-0 versus the Hawks all-time with the UD outscoring Monmouth 46-14 in the last three outings.
Monmouth brings a 3-2 record to Saturday’s match-up with wins over 0-6 Mt. St. Mary’s, 0-5 Wagner and LIU. The Hawks two losses were against NJ brethren Princeton and NJIT by scores 15-5 and 14-13 respectively. Monmouth is led by freshman attackman Brendan Dundas who has 11 goals and 4 assists as the quarterback of this offense. However, he does not pose much of a one-on-one threat from X. In the three games I have seen, he has been manhandled by the much more physical defenders and turned the ball over a bunch (14 TOs). The other two attackman, grad student Connor Macrae and sophomore transfer from Marquette, Connor Gorman, both have 10 goals and 5 assists. Gorman is a big lanky lefty who will try to get to the center of the field to get off a shot at all costs. He tends to force things a little bit and is also prone to a lot of turnovers for an off-ball player.
The Hawks midfield is led by Luke Cole (6g 3a), Sean Ketchen (4g 4a) and Jake Schneider (3g 4a). I am not sure if he is injured but Monmouth is missing sophomore sharpshooter Ty Cafferelli (6 goals) the last two games. He led Monmouth in scoring last year with 31 goals as a freshman. If he is back he will make a difference at midfield.
The Hawks defense gives up just 11.4 goals a game and is led by some undersized but athletic poles. Sophomore Miles Edminston (5’ 10” 155lbs) will probably match up with Mike Robinson on the lefty wing and beefy Denver transfer Gabe Bowen-Slott (6’2” 225lbs) will try to contain JP Ward. I think the Hens will have a significant advantage in these matchups. If they try to double team either attackman Delaware should have a field day shooting inside. The Hawks defense was terrible on slides against Princeton and most recently Mt. St. Mary’s. The shots will be there, they just need to make them when they are open. The Hens are playing without two top midfielders (Cam Acchione and Drew Lenkaitis), and are relying on young players to step in. In the past couple of weeks I have seen great progress from these guys, but at times they have rushed shots or swatted at GBs on the crease rather than making the play. Delaware’s shooting % aside from Robinson (.375) and Ward (.357) has been abysmal. Nick Jessen (.211), Brendan Powers (.167), Jason Kolar (.176) and John McCurry (.107) need to shoot better if the Hens want to win the CAA. It is a minor miracle that they have averaged 12.25 goals a game. The good news is that none of these guys are forcing shots. They are just missing them. Lots of rushed shots in my opinion. These guys need to slow the game down a little bit in order to be successful inside. And inside is where Monmouth is most vulnerable.
Monmouth has a really nice lefty goalie in Tommy Heller, a grad transfer from Albany, whose save percentage is .517. Heller looked terrific in games against Princeton and LIU when he had 18 and 16 saves respectively. Lefties can be tricky sometimes, but the Hens should be able to get 32-40 shots off on Saturday. Make half of them and it’s a great day. Should be fun and rainy.
Monmouth brings a 3-2 record to Saturday’s match-up with wins over 0-6 Mt. St. Mary’s, 0-5 Wagner and LIU. The Hawks two losses were against NJ brethren Princeton and NJIT by scores 15-5 and 14-13 respectively. Monmouth is led by freshman attackman Brendan Dundas who has 11 goals and 4 assists as the quarterback of this offense. However, he does not pose much of a one-on-one threat from X. In the three games I have seen, he has been manhandled by the much more physical defenders and turned the ball over a bunch (14 TOs). The other two attackman, grad student Connor Macrae and sophomore transfer from Marquette, Connor Gorman, both have 10 goals and 5 assists. Gorman is a big lanky lefty who will try to get to the center of the field to get off a shot at all costs. He tends to force things a little bit and is also prone to a lot of turnovers for an off-ball player.
The Hawks midfield is led by Luke Cole (6g 3a), Sean Ketchen (4g 4a) and Jake Schneider (3g 4a). I am not sure if he is injured but Monmouth is missing sophomore sharpshooter Ty Cafferelli (6 goals) the last two games. He led Monmouth in scoring last year with 31 goals as a freshman. If he is back he will make a difference at midfield.
The Hawks defense gives up just 11.4 goals a game and is led by some undersized but athletic poles. Sophomore Miles Edminston (5’ 10” 155lbs) will probably match up with Mike Robinson on the lefty wing and beefy Denver transfer Gabe Bowen-Slott (6’2” 225lbs) will try to contain JP Ward. I think the Hens will have a significant advantage in these matchups. If they try to double team either attackman Delaware should have a field day shooting inside. The Hawks defense was terrible on slides against Princeton and most recently Mt. St. Mary’s. The shots will be there, they just need to make them when they are open. The Hens are playing without two top midfielders (Cam Acchione and Drew Lenkaitis), and are relying on young players to step in. In the past couple of weeks I have seen great progress from these guys, but at times they have rushed shots or swatted at GBs on the crease rather than making the play. Delaware’s shooting % aside from Robinson (.375) and Ward (.357) has been abysmal. Nick Jessen (.211), Brendan Powers (.167), Jason Kolar (.176) and John McCurry (.107) need to shoot better if the Hens want to win the CAA. It is a minor miracle that they have averaged 12.25 goals a game. The good news is that none of these guys are forcing shots. They are just missing them. Lots of rushed shots in my opinion. These guys need to slow the game down a little bit in order to be successful inside. And inside is where Monmouth is most vulnerable.
Monmouth has a really nice lefty goalie in Tommy Heller, a grad transfer from Albany, whose save percentage is .517. Heller looked terrific in games against Princeton and LIU when he had 18 and 16 saves respectively. Lefties can be tricky sometimes, but the Hens should be able to get 32-40 shots off on Saturday. Make half of them and it’s a great day. Should be fun and rainy.