Davidson, N.C.- Davidson College improved to 4-1 on the season after dropping Monmouth University (0-3) at home on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 10-6.
Monmouth's slow start coupled with some impressive individual performances by Davidson caused the Hawks to trail 7-0 after the first 30 minutes of play, a margin the Hawks could not overcome. Monmouth scored a trio of goals with under a minute to play but it wasn't enough for the win.
Trailing by seven after the first half, the Hawks shot out of the gate early with goals by Carissa Franzi (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) and Megan Brennan (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), put MU up 2-0 with 27:55 left in the second frame. Sophomore Rachel Feirstein (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown East) cut the lead to four on her goal at the 23:58 mark, which was assisted by Ali Pollock (Watervliet, N.Y./Shaker). The Hawks continued to attack, peppering Wildcat goal Michelle Pav with shots but the junior turned them away.
Monmouth goalie Monica Johnson (Radnor, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) made a few key saves which turned into MU possessions, including one that resulted in a Molly O'Brien (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) goal with 18:54 left, leaving Monmouth back 7-4. Davidson's Jen Crawford stopped the scoring draught at the 16:09 mark after notching her 12th goal of the season, then added another one five minutes later to give her squad a 9-4 advantage. Crawford scored her third straight goal with 7:50 remaining in regulation, all but extinguishing Monmouth's hopes of a comeback. Brennan tallied a goal at the 1:01 mark while Feirstein and O'Brien would score one more time for the Hawks, ending the scoring at 10-7.
Davidson dominated the scoreboard in the first half, scoring six of its seven first half goals in the first 15 minutes of play. Midfielder Becky Horton scored three of those goals, while Pav made save after save for the Wildcats. MU was able to muster nine shots, but Davidson held a 7-0 lead after 30 minutes.
Monmouth held a 24-21 advantage in shots but Pav made 10 saves in net for the Wildcats, compared to Johnson's seven. MU forced a season-high 11 caused turnovers while collecting 10 ground balls. Horton and Crawford led Davidson with three goals each in the win. Feirstein's four points (2g-2a) was tops among players, with O'Brien and Brennan each scoring twice in the loss.
It is the just the third time Monmouth has started a season 0-3 and the first time since 2006, the same year the Hawks won their second Northeast Conference title and hosted Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Monmouth is back in action on Wednesday, when they face LaSalle University at Davidson's field for an 11 a.m. tilt.
