Monmouth Claims the 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship
No. 1 Quinnipiac University – 0 | No. 6 Monmouth University – 1
2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship – Final
Quinnipiac Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium | Hamden, CT
Sixth-seeded Monmouth (5-2-1, 2-2-1 MAAC) and top-seeded Quinnipiac (7-2-0, 5-1-0 MAAC) found themselves scoreless at the half, with the Hawks holding a 4-2 advantage in shots. In the 86th minute, Monmouth found the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead. The Hawks would hold to the 1-0 lead for the remaining four minutes to claim the 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship.
Monmouth was selected eighth in the 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll this season but ended the year claiming their second MAAC Championship, with their first coming in 2014. The Hawks will advance to the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. Their matchup, as well as the complete bracket, will be announced in the NCAA selection show on Monday, April 19, at 12 p.m. on NCAA.com.
After the game, sophomore Forward Julian Gomez was announced as the 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship MVP. Gomez scored the championship game-winning goal and scored in every postseason game this year.
Monmouth Notes
- This was Monmouth’s fourth championship game appearance, they are now 2-2 all-time in MAAC Championship games. It is the program’s second MAAC Title, with their first coming in 2014.
- Monmouth had a 4-2 advantage in shots in the first half and finished the game with an 11-9 advantage. The Hawks also had the edge in shots on goal 4-1.
- Julian Gomez scored the game’s only goal in the 86th minute. He found the back of the net in all three postseason games for the Hawks. His effort also was rewarded as he was named the 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship MVP.
- Gomez also finished with a game-high five shots and had three on goal.
- Goalkeeper Sean Murray recorded back-to-back clean sheets, today’s was his fourth of the season. The only goal Murray conceded in the postseason came on a penalty kick versus Niagara in the quarterfinals.
- Since falling behind to Niagara 3-1 at the half in the final regular season game Monmouth finished the season outscoring opponents 8-1.
- The Hawks are the first sixth-seeded team to claim the Men’s Soccer Championships. (Records back as far as 2007)
- This will mark Monmouth’s seventh time advancing the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.
- Monmouth improves to 16-6-4 all-time against Quinnipiac.
Quinnipiac Notes
- This was Quinnipiac’s fourth championship game appearance. They are now 1-3 all-time in MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship games. All four of their appearances have come since 2013.
- The Bobcats held a 5-0 corner kick advantage in the first half and finished the game with an 8-2 edge.
- Tomas Svecula had a team-high three shots.
- David Bercedo tallied two shots and had the team's lone shot on goal.
- Goalkeeper Jared Mazzola faced 11 shots in the game and made three saves.
| 2020-21 MAAC MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE |
| Sunday, April 11 |
Match-Up |
Time |
Network |
| Quarterfinal #1* |
No. 2 Rider 4 vs. No. 7 Iona 1 |
2:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal #2* |
No. 3 Niagara 1 vs. No. 6 Monmouth 2 |
2:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal #3* |
No. 1 Quinnipiac 1 vs. No. 8 Siena 0 |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Quarterfinal #4* |
No. 4 Saint Peter’s 0 vs. No. 5 Fairfield 1 |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
|
|
|
| Wednesday, April 14 |
|
|
|
| Semifinal #1* |
No. 2 Rider 0 vs. No. 6 Monmouth 2 |
4:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Semifinal #2* |
No. 1 Quinnipiac 2 vs. No. 5 Fairfield 1 |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
|
|
|
|
| Saturday, April 17 |
|
|
|
| Championship Game* |
No. 1 Quinnipiac 0 vs. No. 6 Monmouth 1 |
3:00 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
*Match hosted by the higher seed
Keep up with all MAAC soccer action by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and by searching #MAACSoccer.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40
th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.