WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's soccer team posted a 5-0 win over visiting NJIT in collegiate soccer action, on Friday afternoon. Monmouth, which is now 2-0-2 at home on The Great Lawn in 2007, improves to 4-2-3 overall, while the Highlanders fell to 0-8-0 on the year.
"This was a terrific effort to end our non-conference schedule," said head coach Krissy Turner. "Scoring seven goals in our last two games doubles our output for the season. It gives us a lot of confidence going into league play."
The Hawks netted their first goal when senior Brittani Heller nodded in her second corner kick header goal of the year off a service from classmate Amy Hoyer, at 19:21. The Blue and White pushed the score to 2-0 at 41:15 when Shannon Rogers was successful on a penalty kick attempt. Rogers' attempt came after an NJIT defender pushed down freshman Gianna Russo from behind, in the box.
Junior Joanna DeMoor scored the first of her two goals in the match 3:05 into the second half, when Andrea Lopez intercepted an NJIT throw-in, dribbled to the touch line and found DeMoor in the box for the one-timer. DeMoor netted her second straight goal in the 71st minute as she deposited a loose ball in the box into the net, for the 4-0 MU advantage.
Freshman Mary Wilks put the Hawks ahead 5-0 at 82:32 as the rookie was on the end of sophomore Danielle Rosanova's corner kick serve. The goal was Wilks' first career score, while Rosanova was credited with her first assist on the year.
Monmouth held a 14-7 advantage in shots, forcing NJIT's Sadie Mele to make five saves. Monmouth's freshman goalkeeper Lia Fierro made one save for the Hawks in the first 60:23, while junior Katie Buffa made two saves to preserve the shutout throughout the remainder of the match. Monmouth also held an 11-0 edge in corner kick opportunities.
Monmouth, which is now 11-0-2 in its last 13 home matches, returns to action on Friday, October 5, when the Hawks open conference play with a game against defending NEC Champion Long Island, who topped the Hawks 2-0 in last season's title game.
