LORETTO, Pa. - The Monmouth University field hockey team opened up Northeast Conference play this afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) at DeGol Field in Loretto, Pa. In the all-important NEC opening matchup, freshman Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) notched the game-winning, and lone, goal for MU pushing the Hawks record to 5-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play, and dropping the Red Flash to 0-10 and 0-1 in the NEC.
The Hawks got on the board 13 minutes into the second half when Pieczynski tipped in a put back shot five yards out from senior Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional), for the eventual game-winning goal. With the goal, the freshman now leads MU with three game-winning tallies and five goals overall.
The game featured no scoring in the first half, as the Hawks controlled the period with a 5-2 penalty corners advantage and a 4-3 shots on goal advantage, but could not put one past Red Flash goalie, Sara Dittmann.
Monmouth junior goalie Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) was flawless between the pipes posting her second career shutout with two saves on the afternoon.
Mazza earned a point in the game with her second game-winning assist of the season. She led the Blue and White with five shots on goal in the game with sophomore Tori Symonds (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) coming off the bench to post a career-high three shots on net. Sophomore Tara Brown (Abington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and Pieczynski each tallied a shot as well.
The Hawks controlled the game with an 8-2 advantage in penalty corners and 10-3 shots on goal lead.
Pieczynski entered the Monmouth annuals this afternoon as she now sits in a 13th place tie all-time in a season with her five goals so far this year. The Hawks move into 1-0 in conference play for the second time in three years under the helm of Head Coach Carli Figlio.
The Blue and White return to the field on Sunday, October 4th, when they travel to Moon Township, Pa. for another NEC game against Robert Morris. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m.
