WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth field hockey goalie Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) made a career-high 14 saves in net as the Hawks fell to #11 Louisville, 4-1 on a sunny Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. Three Cardinal goals in the first half ? all within 4 minutes 30 seconds of each other - proved to be the surge the nationally ranked team needed to win the contest.

“We had a seven minute let down in the first half, but otherwise achieved the goals we set for this game,” said Hawks' coach Carli Figlio.

Katz stopped a one-on-one breakaway five minutes into the game, making a diving save that prompted Louisville's coach to call a timeout. Louisville regrouped fast as the Cardinals' Hayley Turner buried a goal on the right side past Katz to put Louisville up 1-0. Just minutes later, the Cardinals added a rebound goal and a shot in the left corner of the goal to push Louisville up 3-0 going into halftime.

Louisville added an insurance goal 10 minutes into the second half before the Hawks seniors provided the offensive spark they were looking for. Senior Janine Rini's (Millstone, N.J./Allentown) mini-breakaway with 13 minutes left was just broken up by Louisville's goalie Heather Bustanoby. Moments later, fellow classmate Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) smacked a shot off the right side post, continuing the Hawks offensive momentum.

With seven minutes left to play, Mazza lead the offensive break that lead to Rini's far-side rebound goal ? her third of the season - to put the Hawks on the board.

The Hawks second half effort - lead by Rini and Mazza - earned praise from Coach Figlio, “I'm extremely proud of the effort the girls put out there today. Louisville is a phenomenal team and I thought we came out played hard.”

The Blue and White were outshot 27-4 and lost the corner opportunities battle 12-4.

Monmouth return to the field and will look to open up conference play with a win as they take on NEC rival Quinnipiac on Friday, October 10th at 4:00 pm.