WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - In only the third overtime game in NEC Championship history, the Monmouth University field hockey team earned a 2-1 extra period victory over the Rider Broncs on Friday early afternoon on the Mercer County College Field Hockey Field in West Windsor, N.J. Posting its first post-season win in program history, the fourth seeded Hawks used an overtime goal from junior defender Nora Bosmans (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) to upend the top seeded Broncs on Rider's host field.
"That {goal} felt unbelievable," said Bosmans. "The team has worked so hard all season long, and for us to come together at the right time is such an amazing feeling. We look forward to tomorrow's championship game."
Playing in their first post-season game since 2004, the Hawks' Bosmans sent a high flicking rebound shot just feet outside of the box into the back of the net in the 81st minute of play to give the Hawks the game-winning goal. The win marks only the second time in NEC Championship history that a number one seed had lost in the semi-finals, with the last time being, ironically enough, number four seeded Rider defeating number one seeded Monmouth in 2000.
Head Coach Carli Figlio notched her first post-season win in her young coaching career at MU. "This was such a special win for this program, " said Coach Figlio. "Going into today's game, we talked about not just one or two players stepping it up, but for everyone to raise their game and they did just that."
The first half of play saw back-and-forth action for the first 20 minutes on both sides with Monmouth goalie Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) making a point blank save at the 20 mark from Rider's Pisani to save a goal. With nine minutes left in the first half, the Hawks missed two opportunities to score with sophomore Tara Brown (Abington, N.J./Archbishop Wood) and All-NEC Second-Team honoree Sarah Keppel (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) having back-to-back shots just feet away from the cage.
Rider got on the board with less than a minute left to play in the half when Rider's McGinnis tipped in a shot from NEC Rookie of the Year, Schneider, to put the Broncs up 1-0 going into intermission.
The Hawks started the second half with a fire in their belly as newly minted All-NEC First-Team honoree Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) took a short corner pass from All-NEC Second-Team award winner Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) and knocked in her 12th goal of the season to tie the score, 1-1, just seven minutes into the second half. The next 28 minutes of play was a see-saw battle until junior Bosmans received a yellow card with less than five minutes left to play to put the Blue and White down a player, but MU's defense prevailed to force overtime.
Between the pipes, Katz had 11 saves on the afternoon that included several clutch point blank stops. The Broncs held both the shots (22-10) and penalty corners (12-2) advantages on the afternoon.
The Blue and White were lead offensively by Mazza, who notched five shots in the game. Brown, Keppel, Bosmans, junior Meredith Violi (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and junior Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) each added a shot on goal as well.
"We're very excited about {tomorrow's championship game}. We need to stay focused and play our game. At this point in the season, we feel like there is no obstacle we can't overcome if we play together, so we'll be ready," remarked Coach Figlio.
Monmouth has reached the NEC Championship game for the first time in school history. The fourth seeded Hawks will be taking on defending champion, second seeded Lock Haven tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m. at Mercer County College.
