WEST LONG BRANCH — It was one other Saturday that was removed from immaculate for Monmouth soccer. However after an exciting 60 minutes, the s stay good in convention play in 2026.
The Hawks discovered themselves in a homecoming shootout in opposition to a feisty, however winless, Towson crew that led at halftime and pushed them to the brink. It was acquainted territory for a crew that’s snug being uncomfortable, and Monmouth (4-2) held on for the 41-40 win over the Tigers (0-6).
"Our guys fought till the top. We've had a knack for successful these form of video games," Monmouth head coach Jeff Gallo mentioned. "I'm happy with the hassle and people guys coming collectively within the fourth quarter once more, discovering a strategy to win."
The Hawks stay atop the CAA standings with a 3-0 document in convention, one in all 4 groups unbeaten in league play and the one one to take action via three video games. In comparison with latest street wins over Dartmouth and Albany, it wasn't a efficiency marked by clear enchancment. Nevertheless it was one other demonstration of the crew's resilient nature and innate potential to ship within the crunch time.
It was the third straight win for Monmouth, all of which have been a results of clutch finishes within the fourth quarter. For all of the faults in these performances, they’re outdated by the widespread denominator of the Hawks being snug closing out video games in high-leverage moments.
Towards Towson, the turning level was a fourth quarter choose six by freshman defensive again Amori McNeil, who dealt with a move that was tipped by Spencer Kishbaugh and returned it 71-yards to the home to interrupt a 27-27 tie and provides Monmouth the 34-27 lead.
"It was really nice. I give reward to God for placing me on this scenario," McNeil mentioned. "I really feel like ever since I stepped right here on campus, the coaches all the time believed in me to place within the work and all the time push me. And when the choose had come my manner, I used to be constructed for this second and I acquired to make a play."
A number of faulty calls helped to maintain the Tigers afloat, together with a move interference on fourth down that arrange a 1-yard landing run by Xavier Pugh to tie it at 34-34. However the Hawks had been regular underneath stress with a robust run sport led by Kenny Smith and Elijah Jennings, which arrange a deep shot to Gavin Nelson for the 41-yard landing that finally put the sport out of attain.
"At any time when there's a run play, our receivers coach all the time tells us to get a rep at outdoors, see how the corners play, see how the safeties play," Nelson mentioned. "So it units up the move. Whenever you're operating the ball properly, which we did, it will get the safeties to minimize. We had our one-on-one, so we took our shot. Man, it labored out properly for us."
It was a banner day for the Baltimore native in opposition to his hometown faculty, as Nelson completed with 100 receiving yards on eight catches with two scores. His excellent manufacturing was matched by the Hawks dashing assault, which amassed 198 yards whereas averaging 5.2 yards per carry. That can also be a testomony to the excellent play of the Monmouth offensive line, which didn’t enable a sack.
Towson saved issues attention-grabbing till the ultimate minute after a miraculous fourth down landing catch by Cleveland Charlton on a tipped ball ultimately zone with 1:41 left, however an extreme celebration prompted the point-after try to be a 36-yard kick, and it was vast proper. Trailing 41-40 with three timeouts, the Tigers kicked deep and tried to get the defensive cease, however Elijah Jennings sealed the victory with a primary down carry within the closing minute.
"I really like when you need to run it on the finish, you possibly can run it," Gallo mentioned. "We had been capable of run the ball after we needed to win the sport. We had been capable of throw to attain, and run to win."
The passing sport was not as sharp because it had been in earlier weeks, however quarterback Frankie Weaver made the performs that had been wanted once they had been wanted most. He completed the sport 18-for-27 for 218 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. Tra Neal had one other sturdy day with 86 yards on 4 catches, together with a 38-yard seize that arrange a swift rating on the opening drive.
The unsung hero of the afternoon was redshirt sophomore kicker Sky Sholder, recent off his game-winning subject objective that bounced off the upright in opposition to Dartmouth, didn't want any luck this time round. He drilled a 41-yarder within the first half and a 36-yarder within the second half, a key distinction in distinction to Towson's two missed subject targets.
And though it was an uneven exhibiting defensively, the Hawks discovered simply sufficient solutions to get the win. There have been back-breaking performs like a 4th-and-15 that was transformed on a scramble by quarterback Andrew Indorf and led to Towson taking a 20-17 lead at halftime. The Tigers opened the sport 6-for-9 on third down conversions, however completed 3-for-7. The Monmouth protection had three sacks, highlighted by Hunter Watson's one with two tackles for loss.
"We had been capable of choose up on some tendencies early on and that frees us up relating to figuring out run, move, issues like that," Watson mentioned. "It's additionally teaching. Simply placing us in the most effective place to be making these performs, and I believe Coach Cole does an excellent job on permitting us to be put in these conditions and instilling self-discipline in us relating to that."
It's additionally a credit score to a Towson offense that has performed higher than their winless document. Indorf was the convention co-Offensive Rookie of the 12 months final yr, and he was at his greatest in opposition to the Hawks alongside together with his receivers. He completed with 279 yards and 4 touchdowns, two of which went to the 6-foot-5 Charlton. Along with his miraculous catch within the closing two minutes, he had an excellent higher one-handed seize on the opening drive of the third quarter.
"That they had a hell of a quarterback. And an enormous emphasis this week was making an attempt to comprise him," Watson mentioned. "He's extra of scramble to throw kind of man, so simply protecting that lane integrity, being disciplined in our lanes and simply having that self-discipline of staying in our gaps."
It was a determined Towson crew that was wanting to knock off a CAA favourite for his or her first win of 2026, however finally the Hawks dug deeper and now stay in command of their very own future as they pursue a convention title and a spot within the FCS playoffs. Monmouth enters the bye week on the halfway level of the common season, a possibility to regroup because the crew goals to get their first ever win in opposition to New Hampshire on Oct. 17.
"We wish to get wholesome, enhance ourselves within the bye week and begin taking a look at what they do on offense and protection and particular groups," Gallo mentioned. "It's a crew that's powerful. You've acquired to go up there and play them on the street and so they're of their house and we haven't overwhelmed them. So it's an amazing alternative for us."
This text initially appeared on Asbury Park Press: n
