HAMDEN, Conn. ? The Monmouth University field hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision to Quinnipiac in their 2007 Northeast Conference finale on Friday afternoon at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Turf Complex. The loss eliminates Monmouth from postseason consideration, marking the second consecutive season that the Hawks will fall one game short of qualifying for the conference tournament. The loss drops MU's record to 4-11 and 3-4 in the NEC, while Quinnipiac improves to 5-13 and 3-4 in the league.

Quinnipiac got on the board first when Lauren Hartnett scored off teammate Bonnie Shea's rebound to give the hosts a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game. The score remained 1-0 until the 43rd minute, when Monmouth's Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) scored off a penalty corner chance when she beat Quinnipiac goalie Jenna Grossman high to knot the game at 1-1.

The Bobcats then scored two goals less than a minute apart as Megan McCreedy and Shea scored to seal the win for Quinnipiac.

Quinnipiac outshot Monmouth 19-11, including 14-5 in the second half, and held a 12-5 advantage on penalty corner opportunities.

Megan Smith (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) made 10 saves in goal for the Hawks, while Grossman made five saves for Quinnipiac to earn the win.

The Hawks conclude their 2007 season on Tuesday, October 30 when they travel to Princeton for a 6:00 p.m. match with the Tigers.