LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The second-seeded Monmouth University field hockey team defeated the third-seeded Bryant Bulldogs in the semifinals of the 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament, Friday morning at Rider University.
Monmouth improves to 15-4 and advances to the conference tournament title game for the second consecutive season on Saturday.
"Today was a great team effort," said the 2010 NEC Coach of the Year Carli Figlio. "We fought hard for 70 minutes and really proved to ourselves that we can accomplish anything we focus on."
Monmouth took an early 1-0 lead, 10:02 in the contest, when senior Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) inserted a penalty corner along the left side to classmate Nora Bosmans (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) who fired it past Bryant goalkeeper Jennifer Gullotti for her second goal of the year.
Seven minutes later, junior Tara Brown (Hatboro, Pa./Archbiship Wood) fired a shot that was turned away by Gullotti but the ball caromed to junior Ashley McPeek (Hazlet, N.J./St. John Vianney) who found the back of the cage for the second time this year, giving the Hawks a two-goal advantage.
Just under four minutes into the second half, McPeek found sophomore Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) in the front of the cage who fired a shot inside the left post, her 14th goal of the year, giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs responded 26 seconds later when Elise Boissoneau took a cross from Chiedza Mawema and shot it past Monmouth goalkeeper Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional [Michigan State]) to cut the lead to 3-1.
Sophomore Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J. /Hunterdon Central) registered her 14th score of the season, three minutes later, as she intercepted the ball in the attacking zone and was one on one with Gullotti. Baligian fired it low, inside the left post, for a 4-1 Monmouth lead.
Katz made six saves in the win while Gullotti turned away five shots for the Bulldogs.
Bryant held the slight advantage in shots, 12-11 and controlled the penatly corners, 16-6.
The Hawks will battle the host Broncs for the the NEC Championship at Rider's New Turf Field in Lawrenceville, N.J., tomorrow at noon.
