WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth University senior Illiana Blackshear collected a pass from classmate Jaclyn Pember in the box, and put a shot in off the far post for the game-winner, 3:59 into overtime, to give the Hawks a 2-1 victory over La Salle. The win, Monmouth's second straight overtime victory, improves the Hawks' record to 6-1 on the season, while La Salle falls to 4-3-1 on the year.

Pember found Blackshear, who made a bending run into the box, as the forward put a shot on frame, from near the touch, which hit the far post and bounced in the net, over an out-stretched Melissa Sanger.

"This was a hard-fought win on The Great Lawn today,” said head coach Krissy Turner. “We showed a lot of character in the first half and played the best soccer of the season.”

Monmouth took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Blackshear earned a penalty kick for the Hawks at 23:14. Blackshear beat one defender, but was taken down in the box by a second defender, for the free kick, which junior Shannon Rogers capitalized on for her first goal of the season.

The Explorers knotted the score at 68:22 when Alex Conley snuffed a Monmouth clearance and carried the ball in the box, beating sophomore goalkeeper Lia Fierro to the far netting.

Sanger made two saves for the Explorers, while Fierro recorded her sixth win on the season, stopping two shots.

The Blue and White, which are now 19-1-2 at home since the 2006 season, held a 14-6 advantage in shots in the contest.

Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, September 23rd, when the Hawks travel to Seton Hall for a 7 p.m. match.