WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University lacrosse team defeated Northeast Conference rival Wagner 13-7 on Friday afternoon at Kessler Field. The Hawks improve to 12-4 on the season and 6-1 in league play, while Wagner drops to 2-12 and 2-5 in conference.
Wagner scored the game's first goal almost 10 minutes into the game when Cara Gonzalez scored off an assist from Terri Noll, but the Hawks evened the score when Megan Brennan (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) tallied an unassisted score on a wrap around.
WC's Kelly Blundin put the Seahawks back in the lead 2-1 with an unassisted goal with 10:21 left before halftime. Ashley Waldman (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) evened the score at 2-2 after scoring on a free position chance a minute later for the Hawks, and put the Hawks in the lead with 7:27 showing after scoring on another free position. Noll tied the contest up at 3-3 for the visitor's with an unassisted score around the five-minute mark of the opening half.
Carissa Franzi (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) put the Hawks up 4-3 with an unassisted goal, and reigning NEC Rookie of the Week Rachel Feirstein increased the Hawks advantage to 5-3 after scoring on a spin move. Senior Megan Nutter (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) put the Hawks up 6-3 going into halftime after scoring off an assist from Feirstein.
The Seahawks cut the MU lead to 6-4 after Noll scored an unassisted tally, the first of the second half. The Nutter-Feirstein struck again for the Hawks as the freshman fed the senior for a score to put MU up 7-4. Krista Malayter got Wagner back to within 7-5 after scoring at the 22:00 mark of the second half, and Jessica Richmond got them to within one at scoring at the 20:58 mark.
MU's Jessica Picciuto (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) put the Hawks up 8-6 after she scored off an assist from Brennan at the 18:53 mark of the second half. Malayter again the visitor's to within a single goal after scoring an unassisted tally with 16:40 left in the game. Brennan increased the Hawks lead to 9-7 after scoring on a breakaway off a Wagner turnover. Waldman increased the MU lead to 10-7 after scoring with 8:10 left in the contest, and Nutter scored again to push the Hawks lead to four after controlling the subsequent draw.
Shawn Evans (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 12-7 after scoring off an assist from Feirstein around the three-minute mark.
The Hawks outshot Wagner 28-22 and held a 12-9 advantage on draw controls. The Seahawks and Hawks also each had 13 turnovers.
A trio of Hawks scored three goals, led by Brennan with three goals and two assists. Nutter and Waldman each added three scores, with Feirstein adding a goal and a career-high four assists.
Junior Monica Johnson (Radnor, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) had 11 saves for the Blue and White. Erin Marley (Columbia, Md./Seton Keough) led the MU defense with five ground balls and three caused turnovers. Johnson and freshman Danielle Hawkins (Havre De Grace, Md./Havre De Grace) each added three ground balls for MU.
Monmouth returns to action on Sunday, April 20 when they conclude their regular season against rival Mount St. Mary's at Kessler Field at 1:00 p.m.
