WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University field hockey team rewrote the record books with its 10-0 victory over Northeast Conference opponent Siena on Friday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. The Hawks improve to 12-3 overall, and 4-0 in NEC action, while Siena falls to 2-13 and 0-4 in league play.
The 12 wins for the Blue and White sets a new standard for victories in program history, breaking the record of 11 set in 2000. Also, the Hawks' 10 goals is the highest goal production since scoring eight in 2002 against Saint Francis (Pa.), while Monmouth's 28 points as a team erases the record of 20 set in the same contest against the Red Flash. MU also recorded eight assists against the Saints, breaking the record of five set against Siena a year ago.
Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) led the Hawks' offense as the sophomore scored four times, good for eight points, setting the single-game record in both categories.
"It is exciting day for Monmouth hockey," said head coach Carli Figlio. "It is great to come back home and get a great result. It was clearly a team effort."
Senior Nora Bosmans (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean) started the offense five minutes in as she fired a shot from the top of the circle past Siena's starting goalkeeper Beth Myers for a quick 1-0 lead. Pieczynski deflected her first goal past Myers six minutes later off a Bosmans' shot, for a 2-0 advantage. Senior Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) connected for her sixth score of the season on a penalty stroke 17:31 into the first half to extend the Hawks' lead to 3-0, before Pieczynski and junior Ashley McPeek (Hazlet, N.J./St. John Vianney) added goals 23 seconds apart giving the Blue and White a five-goal advantage at intermission.
Junior Elly Rosati (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) connected with Pieczynski to start the scoring in the second half, as the sophomore deflected it past Meyers' replacement Alison Baillargeon, 5:51 into the frame, and a 6-0 lead.
Sophomore Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) connected 1:09 later, off a feed from freshman Steph Lewis (Garwood, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson), for her 12th goal of the season and a 7-0 Hawks' advantage, while Pieczynski and Bosmans connected again less than three minutes later to push the Hawks' lead to 8-0.
Senior Melissa Murphy (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) found the back of the cage with less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation, taking a corner feed from freshman Alex Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and classmate Meredith Violi (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), for her second score of the season. Rosati capped off the MU offensive attack, firing a shot off a corner, for her first goal of the year with 9:09 left to play.
Senior Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional [Michigan State]) recorded her fourth straight shutout, making one save. Meyers, who is credited with the loss, turned away six MU shots, while Baillargeon made two saves in her 35 minutes of work.
The Hawks held the advantage in both shots, 23-1 and penalty corners, 13-1.
The Blue and White returns to action on Sunday, October 24th, in a pivotal Northeast Conference game against Bryant, starting at noon.
