WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University field hockey team came back from two goals down, but ultimately fell to Rider 3-2 in overtime on Friday afternoon on a rain-soaked So Sweet A Cat field. Monmouth found themselves down 2-0 with thirty minutes to go in the game before they scored a pair of goals within three minutes to knot the affair before falling with less than a minute left in overtime.

Kelly Crist (Belford, N.J./Middletown North) scored Monmouth's first goal when teammate Nora Bosmans (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) crossed the ball into the circle to get MU on the board, even though they trailed 2-1 with twenty minutes to go in the game. Then, less than three minutes later, Annie LoPresti (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) centered the ball and teammate Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) scored her first goal in a Monmouth uniform to tie the game at 2-2 with 53:54 to go in the game.

The game then went to overtime, where Monmouth goalie Megan Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) made two sparkling saves off of Rider penalty corner opportunities, before the Hawks fell when Margaret Ecke scored with :52 left in the game.

Tricia Crotty scored off an Ecke assist for Rider's first goal less than four minutes into the first half, and Allison Vogel scored from a Stephanie Walker assist to give them a 2-0 lead 42:57 into the game.

Each team took 16 shots in the game, and Monmouth held a slight 12-10 advantage in penalty corner opportunities. Smith made 10 saves for the Hawks in the game, while Rider's Jennifer LoCastro made six saves in earning the win.

The game marked the final home contest and Senior Day for Monmouth's LoPresti and Hollee Hooven (Flemington, N.J./Huntderdon Central), and a brief pre-game ceremony recognized the two.

Monmouth returns to action on Friday, October 26 when they travel to Hamden, Conn. for a 3:00 p.m. game with Quinnipiac.