PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Behind two goals from freshman Alex Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and sophomore Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central), the Monmouth University field hockey team overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat Rutgers University 4-3, at Bauer Complex Sunday afternoon. MU, which received votes in the latest Kookaburra / NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, improved its program's best start to 6-1 while the Scarlet Knights fall to 1-7. By outlasting the Scarlet Knights, the Hawks have now won five straight contests for the first time in program history.
"This game really showed our kids heart and hustle," said head coach Carli Figlio. "Rutgers played a fantastic game and we showed we can bounce back with the leadership of Melissa Katz and Nora Bosmans."
Rutgers got off to a quick 2-0 lead within the first eight minutes of the game as Nicole Gentile found the back of the cage off a scramble in the circle, 1:02 into the contest. RU struck six minutes later as Gia Nappi found the left corner from two yards out to beat Hawks goaltender Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional [Michigan State]).
Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) scored her first goal of the day when she fired a shot from the left side of the circle off a penalty corner insert from Tori Symonds (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) with 22:58 left in the first half. The defender knotted the game at 2-2 with 9:13 left go in the first half when she found the back of the cage off a penalty corner insert from senior Meredith Violi (Stoudburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) for her fifth goal of the season.
Baligian put the Hawks ahead, 3-2, seven minutes into the second frame as Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa/Central Buck West) found her classmate in front of the cage for a straight on shot past RU goalkeeper Sarah Stuby.
The Scarlet Knights answered with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation as Kat Rodziewicz knocked in a goal off a rebound to tie the game at 3-3.
With 6:43 left, Baligian played the ball into the circle on a bounce. The forward took a reverse stick shot past Stuby for the game-winner, her fifth goal of the season.
Katz increased her record to 6-1 with the win, making eight saves on 11 shots while Stuby is credited with her third loss, making five saves in the afternoon.
MU was outshot, 14-12 but held the slight advantage in penalty corners, 6-5.
Monmouth and Rutgers played today's contest for the "Stick It to Cancer" movement to help raise money for cancer research.
"It was also a special day for us with 'Stick It to Cancer' campaign," added Figlio. "It is great to get a win but even better to play for a great cause."
Monmouth returns to action next Sunday, September 26th, when it travels to Burlington, Vermont for a non-conference battle with the University of Vermont, beginning at 12 p.m.
