PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Monmouth University field hockey team received their second straight loss of the season, 4-2, to non-conference foe Brown, Saturday afternoon at Warner Roof. Despite the continuing brilliant play of senior Enza Mazza (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional), who posted three points in the afternoon with a goal and assist, the streaky Blue and White fall on the road dropping their record to 3-2 while the Bears improve to 1-2 on the young season.
Earning their first victory of the season, in first meeting between the programs, Brown tallied three straight goals in the second half to give the Hawks a loss in the first of back-to-back contests in New England this weekend.
The afternoon's matchup opened up positively for MU, as Mazza put the Hawks on the scoreboard first with an unassisted cross deflected goal past the Bears' goalie Caroline Washburn just 12 minutes into the game. The Bears' Kit Masini answered just minutes later on a tipped pass in the near post to even up the score, 1-1 going into intermission.
Junior Meredith Violi (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) netted her second career goal, assisted by Mazza, two minutes into the second half on a rebounded blocked shot to give Monmouth the 2-1 advantage. After the Violi putback, it was all Brown in the decisive half as the Bears scored three-straight, including an insurance goal with just 13 minutes left to play, to end MU's chances on the afternoon.
The Hawks' goalie Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) posted 11 saves on the afternoon while current Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West), and senior Sarah Keppel (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) each tallied two shots on goal. Junior Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale), a defensive stall worth for the Blue and White, got into the offensive attack, notching a shot on goal as well.
Monmouth was outshot by Brown, 26-16, but controlled penalty corners, 8-7.
Mazza, who is currently the Northeast Conference's third leading scorer, earned three more points in the game to push her into a ninth place tie in MU history with 28 career points. Posting a point in every game so far this season, she has also jumped into a 12th place tie for points in a season with 12, just five games in.
MU will look to regain momentum, and find their winning ways, as they travel to bean-town for a non-conference game tomorrow with #10 ranked Boston College. Game time is slated for 2:00 p.m.
