WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- The Monmouth University lacrosse team won its fifth straight
match, topping Saint Francis (Pa.), 13-8 in Northeast Conference action on
Sunday afternoon at Kessler Field. The Hawks improve to 5-5 overall and 3-0 in
the league, while the Red Flash fall to 6-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
The Hawks led the league match for all of 1:34 of game
action, building an advantage that grew to as many as eight goals with 23:26
left in the second half.
MU senior Ali Pollock (Watervliet, N.Y. /Shaker) paced the
offense with four goals, while junior Rachel Feirstein (Smithtown, N.Y.
/Smithtown East) added three tallies in the win, the Hawks fifth straight and third in a row to begin NEC play.
After SFU scored the match's first goal, Monmouth University ran off four
straight scores to take a 4-1 lead with 15:19 showing in the first half. After
another Red Flash tally, the Blue and White scored four of the final five goals
of the opening half to take an 8-3 lead into intermission.
The Hawks used a 5-0 scoring run that spanned the end of the first half and
beginning of the second half to take an 11-3 lead with 23:26 left. From there,
the Red Flash would get to within five scores after Danielle Conwell scored
with 7:30 to go, but MU would only allow one more tally for the visitor's the
rest of the way, winning 13-8.
Junior Carissa Franzi (Fairfield, N.J. /West Essex) contributed two goals, two
assists, four ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers for the
Hawks. Feirstein added three caused turnovers, while Molly O'Brien (Kennett
Square, Pa. /Unionville) added two goals. Sophomore Olivia Salata (Broomall,
Pa. /Archbishop Carroll) added a goal and an assists while junior Kaitlin Feeney (Baltimore, Md. /Towson) added a goal.
Freshman Julia Miczak (Essex Falls, N.J. /West Essex) contributed her first
collegiate point in her first action in a Monmouth uniform.
Junior goalie Kirby Mundorf (Catonsville, Md. /Seton Keough)
made 15 saves, one shy of her career high, and added a career-best eight ground
balls to earn the win.
The Hawks outshot SFU, 31-26, including 19-12 in the first half, but the Red
Flash earned 15 draw controls, compared to 10 for Monmouth. MU also converted
6-of-9 free positions, compared to only 2-of-7 for the Red Flash.
Monmouth University returns to action on Thursday when it travels to Hamden,
Conn. for a 3:00 pm league contest with Quinnipiac.
