BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Monmouth Field Hockey showed great life in the first half of their game with Maine (2-2), but couldn't hold on in the second half as they lost 3-2 in the first game of the Catamount Classic in Vermont on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks, now 0-5 on the season, were lead by senior Janine Rini (Millstone, N.J./Allentown) who put the Hawks on the board first with an unassisted goal 14 minutes into the game. Rini posted a career high three points on the day as she assisted senior Aileen Bosmans (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) 12 minutes later to put the Blue and White up 2-0 in the first half.

The Black Bears scored their first goal on the afternoon by Jocelyn Mitchell with just eight seconds left in the half, cutting the Hawks lead into just one going into intermission. With momentum on Maine's side, the Black Bears outshot Monmouth in the second half, scoring on two of 14 shots in the half. Stephanie Gardiner scored back to back unassisted goals for Maine ? the last coming at 13 minutes left in the game ? to seal the victory for the Black Bears.

Playing in another tough battle between the pipes, junior goalie Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) made a season-high nine saves on the afternoon , facing 21 shots total in the game. Maine outshot Monmouth 21-10 while the Hawks posted a 4-3 advantage in corners against the Black Bears.

Showing leadership by the most experienced, the Hawks tallied shots by senior Molly Passarella (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) and juniors Sara Keppel (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) and Stefanie Moyer (Newark, Del./Sanford).

With the loss, the Hawks have started this season recording five straight losses by two or less goals.

Looking to change their fortune, the Blue and White take on host team, Vermont, in the second game of the Catamount Classic tomorrow, September 14th at 2:00 p.m.