MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - No stranger to streaks, the Monmouth University Field Hockey team added to their winning streak with a 2-1 overtime victory over Northeast Conference rival, Robert Morris, this afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pa. After opening up the season with three straight wins, then six straight losses, the Hawks have bounced back to post another three-game win streak to push their record to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in the NEC while dropping Robert Morris to 1-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
"{The win} was a great result off of a hard road trip," said Head Coach Carli Figlio. "The team is really looking forward to this upcoming weekend at home. It's a great way to start NEC play."
In a scrappy game featuring three defensive saves, and thirteen saves amongst the respective goalies, it was only appropriate that the overtime thrilling match end on a rebound from a blocked shot. Redshirt senior Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) registered the game-winning goal, her first of the season, just 22 seconds into overtime off of a shot from teammate Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) to give the Hawks their second extra session win of the season.
The Blue and White found themselves in an early hole when Colonials' Catherine Myrick scored off of a penalty corner to put RMU up 1-0 just 14 minutes into the game, but it was MU junior Katelyn Buckley (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) who answered seven minutes later with a put back yards outside of the box to even up the score going into halftime. The goal marked the first career points for Buckley, a former walk-on for the Blue and White.
The second half saw no scoring, as Robert Morris outshot Monmouth 10-6 in the period.
Junior goalie Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) and junior Nora Bosmans (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) anchored the Blue and White defensively in the game with Katz making eight saves and Bosmans posting a career-high two defensive saves. Bosmans now leads the NEC in defensive saves with three total.
Mazza led the offensive attack for MU with ten shots on the afternoon followed by Buckley's two shots. Freshman Nicole Manziano (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township), sophomore Ashley McPeek (Hazlet, N.J./St. John Vianney), and junior Firmstone all notched a shot on goal in the game for Monmouth as well.
Robert Morris held both the shots advantage, 18-15, and penalty corners advantage, 12-10, over Monmouth.
With six wins so far in the season, Coach Figlio's squad has now doubled their win total from all of last season (three).
After picking up a goal and an assist in the last two games, Mazza currently sits in a fifth place tie on the Monmouth annuals in all-time career points with 31. She has also cracked the top-ten in career goals and assists, eighth place tie with 11 goals and sixth place tie with nine assists.
The Blue and White will look to continue their winning ways this Friday, October 9th, as they host NEC rival Rider on So Sweet A Cat Field at 4:00 p.m.
