WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University women's lacrosse team won their second straight game to open the 2007 season by defeating Howard 19-6 on Sunday afternoon at Kessler Field. Carolyn Raveia (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) scored six goals for the second consecutive game to lead MU, and she added two assists. Katie Degen (Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore) scored four goals and added an assist and Ashley Waldman (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and Ali Pollock (Watervliet, N.Y./Shaker) each tallied two goals and three assists in the win.
“Today's win was a total team effort and I'm pleased with how the team played in both games this weekend,” said head coach Kelly McCardell. “I'm proud of how we've begun the season and am looking forward to continuing our success on the road. “
Monmouth began the game on a 5-0 scoring run as Waldman opened the day by taking a Megan Brennan (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) feed and scoring less than a minute into the contest. Raveia scored the next three Hawks' goals before Brennan scored off a find from Pollock. Iram Abdullah got Howard on the board at the 20:14 mark of the first half, but MU rattled off three straight tallies by Brennan , Pollock and Waldman to go ahead 8-1. Howard climbed back to make the score 8-3 before Kristie Sosnowski (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) scored two goals with a Degen free-position tally sandwiched between the two to boost the lead to 11-3, which MU took into the half.
Monmouth's scoring was concluded when Brittany Scott (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) tallied her first goal of the season to make the score 19-6 with just under two minutes left in the contest.
The Hawks were 4-of-6 converting free position opportunities, and outshot the Bison 47-30. MU had 21 ground balls in the game, compared to 11 for Howard.
Kaitlyn Robinson (Huntington Station, N.Y./St. Anthony's) led the MU defense with five ground balls, four draw controls and two caused turnovers. Degen also added five ground balls, while Pollock chipped in with 4.
Monica Johnson (Radnor, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) made nine saves, including seven in the first half, en route to her second win of the season. Becca Ozl (Manassas, Va./Osborn Park) played the final 20 minutes in goal and registered three saves for the Hawks.
Howard had six different players score in the game led by Megan Fitzgerald who tallied a goal and as assist. Biance Lamar made nine saves in goal for the Bison.
Monmouth returns to action Friday, March 2 when they travel to take on Duquesne at 3:00 p.m.
