WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University lacrosse team defeated Iona 18-10 in nonconference action on Sunday afternoon at Kessler Field. The Hawks improve to 7-3, while Iona falls to 3-6 on the year.
Iona's Jaclyn O'Leary scored the game's first goal when she made a nifty one-on-one move and scored 1:49 into the match. Ashley Waldman (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) matched O'Leary's tally with an unassisted goal of her own to knot the contest at 1-1. Rachel Feirstein (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown East) gave MU a 2-1 lead after a stick-side spin move goal one minute later. Megan Nutter (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) added to MU run, making it three unanswered tallies, with a free position goal with just over five minutes gone by in the first half. O'Leary drew the Gaels to within one after she raced 50 yards untouched and scored to make the game 3-2 with 23:55 left in the opening half.
Iona held possession for over nine straight minutes, but couldn't score as the MU defense combined with goalie Monica Johnson (Radnor, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) to continually turn the Gaels away.
MU went up 4-2 as Nutter scored an unassisted tally, the game's first goal in over 13 minutes of action, around the 10 minute mark of the first half. Iona again drew to within one after Kelly Hughes scored with just under eight minutes left in the opening half to make the score 4-3. Nutter added a free position goal to increase the MU lead to 5-3 with 6:10 left in the first half. Waldman then put the Hawks up 6-3 after she scored from an assist from Ali Pollock (Watervliet, N.Y./Shaker) with 5:48 left in the first half. Nutter added another tally to increase the MU lead to 7-3 around the four minute mark. Pollock then crafted a free position tally with less than two minutes left to put the Hawks up 8-3.
Despite winning consecutive draw controls, Monmouth allowed Iona to score the second half's first two goals as Rachel O'Leary, Jaclyn's sister, scored the second half's first goal to get Iona within four with just over a minute in and Jillian Beck scored off an assist from Hughes to make it 8-5. Brittany Scott (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) ended the Iona scoring streak as she scored off an assist from Megan Brennan (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll). Pollock then gave Monmouth a 10-5 lead with 22:15 left as she tallied an unassisted score. Jaclyn O'Leary scored off an assist from Christie Godlewski to end the MU run and cut the lead to 10-6. Brennan answered for the Blue and White to push the lead back to 11-6 with 20:54 left in the game.
After Iona scored to cut the lead to 11-7, Scott answered for MU to increase the lead back to five. The MU lead inflated to 14-8 after a Waldman free position goal with 12:10 left in the second half.
The Hawks held a slim 30-29 advantage on shots, and the draw controls were even at 15-15 for the game. The Hawks converted 4-for-5 free position chances, while Iona only converted on 1-of-4.
MU's offensive charge was led by Waldman and Nutter, who logged four goals apiece. Brennan and Pollock each scored three goals with the reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year also contributing three assists. Pollock scored a pair of goals and also dished out two assists on the afternoon for Monmouth.
Johnson made seven saves in the game for the win, while Waldman added five ground balls and three caused turnovers on the defensive side. Brennan also chipped in with two ground balls and two caused turnovers as well. In all, nine Hawks logged at least one ground ball in the win.
The Hawks return to action on Friday, April 4 when they visit Villanova for a 7:00 p.m. evening affair with the Wildcats.
