Blue Devils Win 10th NEC Title, Beat FDU 1-0 on Sunday in New Britain

The Central Connecticut women's soccer team won its 10th Northeast Conference Championship with a 1-0 win over #2 seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in NEw Britain.  The win gives the Blue Devils back-to-back NEC titles and improves their record to 12-4-4 overall on the season.  The win is the ninth straight for the Blue Devils and it improves their home record to 8-0-1 on the season.  CCSU is 25-0-3 in its last 28 home games.

The Blue Devils avenged their only NEC loss in the last two seasons with the victory.  FDU had defeated CCSU 1-0 in New Jersey in double overtime earlier this season.  The win is the eighth NEC title for head coach Mick D'Arcy (10th overall for CCSU).

Central outshot the Knights 9-7, including 5-1 in shots on goal.  CCSU held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE GAME

GAME INFORMATION - NEC CHAMPIONSHIP
Score: #1 Central Connecticut 1, #2 Fairleigh Dickinson 0
Records: Central Connecticut (12-4-4), FDU (10-6-6)
Location: New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Sophomore Roma McLaughlin scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season at 17:43 of the first half, the only goal of the game.
• In the 10th minute, sophomore goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan made a diving save on a Fairleigh Dickinson free kick to keep the game scoreless at that point.
• McQuillan's shutout was her fourth of the season.  It was the eighth shutout of the season for the Blue Devils.

COACH QUOTE

"It's a fantastic feeling. The back to back is special for the players who were for both, but each team each year is a different identity each team kind of sets its own path," Head Coach Mick D'Arcy said. "They worked hard for this and we knew if we could get it back here on campus, we'd have a great chance. We had a stutter at the beginning, but then went on a fantastic run. The odds were against us hosting after the first couple games, but seven wins in a row to get it back here was great."

NUMBER TO KNOW

10 - The Blue Devils won their 10th NEC title with the 1-0 victory.

NOTES

• Central is now 25-0-3 in its last 28 home games, and haven't lost a home game since Sept. 3, 2017.
• CCSU hosted the NEC Tournament for the seventh time, and won it for the sixth time as host ('97, '98, '02, '05, '18, '19).
• The win is the 9th straight for CCSU.
• McQuillan made one save in goal for the Blue Devils in the win.
• Central senior Yo Tachibana was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player, and also named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.  She was joined on the team by teammates senior Allyson O'Rourke, sophomore Taylor Smith and junior Brianna Williams.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils advance to the NCAA Tournament, and will find out their first round opponent on Monday at 4:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.