FAIRFIELD, CONN. - Led by sophomore Kimmy Baligian's (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) team-leading 11th goal of the season, the Monmouth University field hockey team defeated Sacred Heart, 1-0 on Friday afternoon on Campus Field.  The Hawks improve to 10-3 on the year and 2-0 in Northeast Conference play, while the Pioneers fall to 2-10 and 0-2 in league play. 

With the victory, Monmouth recorded double-digit wins for the second time in program history.  The Hawks set a program-record for win during the 2000 season with 11 victories.

"Today was a great game overall," said head coach Carli Figlio.  "We got back to playing our game and to where we need to be as a team."

With 10:44 left in the contest, senior Meredith Violi (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) inserted a penalty corner to classmate Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) along the left side.  Firmstone dribbled into the circle and found senior Melissa Murphy (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) who then connected with Baligian on the right side, where she fired a shot past SHU goalkeeper Kim Stow for the game-winner.

Senior goalkeeper Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional [Michigan State]) posted her second shutout of the season, making one save while her counterpart, Stow turned away nine MU shots in a losing effort.

The Hawks outshot the Pioneers, 22-5 and held the advantage a 15-6 on penalty corners.

Monmouth continues its Connecticut road trip this weekend as it battles NEC opponent Quinnipiac on Sunday, October 17th, at 1 p.m.