BURLINGTON, VT. - Behind seven goals from five players, the Monmouth University field hockey team defeated the University of Vermont, 7-1 at Moulton Winder Field on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Hawks extended their win streak to six games, and improves to 7-1 on the season while the Catamounts fall to 4-6. Monmouth also solidified the programs first winning record against non-conference opponents with three non-league games left to play.
"It was a great road win for us," commented head coach Carli Figlio. "We had a lot of contributions today from everyone on the field. Our midfield played really well along with our defense contributing in the offensive attack. Today was definitely a team effort and it is just getting us one step closer to our conference play."
The Hawks struck 3:59 into the contest when Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) stickhandled into the circle and fired a shot past Vermont's goaltender Brooke Crane for her first of two goals on the day and an early 1-0 Hawks lead.
Nine minutes later, the Catamounts knotted the score at 1-1 as Taylor Silvestro dribbled to the endline and took a tough angled shot past Monmouth goalkeeper Melissa Katz (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional [Michigan State]).
Starting the second half with the scored tied, the Hawks registered six unanswered goals starting with Meredith Violi's (Stroudsburg, Pa/Stroudsburg) unassisted tally as she knocked in a rebound off of Alex Carroll's (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) shot, for her second goal of the season.
Violi added two assists as she connected with Carroll on back-to-back penalty corners within 54 seconds to give the Hawks a three goal advantage. The freshman defender increased her goal total to seven on the year.
Kayleigh Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) broke away from the Catamount defense with 10:16 remaining and sent a touch pass to Baligian who tallied her second score of the game. The sophomore shares a team-lead with Carroll with seven goals.
One minute later, Kalamar received a pass from senior Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) and beat Crane for her third goal of the season. Tara Brown (Abington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) rounded out the Hawks offensive attack finding the back of the cage in the final minute of play for her first two points of the year.
Katz earned her seventh win of the season making eight saves on the day. Crane, who split time with backup Stephaine Zygmunt, made 11 saves while allowing six goals in a losing effort.
Monmouth held the advantage in shots, 28-13 and penalty corners, 14-4.
The Blue and White return to action on Saturday, October 2nd when the Temple Owls travel to West Long Branch, N.J. for a non-conference battle on So Sweet A Cat Field starting at 12 p.m.
