O?DWYER AND PIECZYNSKI PACE MUFH OVER GEORGETOWN, 5-1

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - After falling behind by a goal 27 seconds into the contest, the Monmouth University field hockey team scored five unanswered tallies to defeat Georgetown University, 5-1, Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. The Hawks, who received two goals apiece from junior Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) and sophomore Patricia O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort), complete the non-conference portion of the 2011 schedule at 8-4, while the Hoyas drop to 2-9 on the year.

For the second time in program history, the Blue and White finish its non-league schedule with an above .500 record. Last season MU finished with a 8-3 mark.

"Today's game was a great win for us heading into conference play," said head coach Carli Figlio. "We really focused on creating 2 v 1 and numbers up situations in the attacking end and that's how we scored most of our goals."

Catherine Shugrue put the Hoyas on the board in the first minute with her shot from the middle of the circle past MU's sophomore goalkeeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas). Monmouth responded 8:19 later as Pieczynski played the ball towards the baseline where she sent a pass to O'Dwyer who fired a shot past Georgetown's starter Briana Pereira, which tied the score at 1-1.

Senior Kayleigh Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) played a ball into the circle, 2:26 later, to the stick of Pieczynski where she deflected it up into the netting to give the Blue and White a lead it would not relinquish.

The Hawks struck again in the first half, with 18:20 remaining, as O'Dwyer tallied her second of the game, sixth of the season, on an unassisted strike along the left side to increase MU's advantage to 3-1 heading into the break.

Monmouth scored 1:44 into the second stanza as Pieczynski registered her second of the game and 11th of the season on a shot inside the far post and senior Tara Brown (Hatboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) rounded out the Hawks' scoring in the 57th minute as she tipped in her own rebound for her second strike of the year.

Mathews made three saves in cage for the Hawks, while junior Nicole Manziano (Monroe, N.J./Monroe) registered a defensive save for the fifth-straight contest. Pereira turned away four shots in the losing effort and Kelly Mosser, who came in with 9:06 in the second half, made one save for the Hoyas.

The Hawks controlled the shots,20-6, and the penalty corners, 14-2.

MU, which received a vote in the latest 2011 Kookaburra / NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, returns to action on Friday, October 7th, as it travels to Smithfield, Rhode Island to open up Northeast Conference play at Bryant. The game is slated for 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Tara Brown: M; 5' 6"; Freshman

#27 Kayleigh Kalamar: M; 5' 6"; Freshman

#1 Nicole Manziano: D; 5' 3"; Freshman

#8 Michelle Pieczynski: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#96 Teresa Mathews: GK; 5' 1"; Freshman

#16 Trish O'Dwyer: F; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#12 Tara Brown
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: M

#27 Kayleigh Kalamar
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: M

#1 Nicole Manziano
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: D

#8 Michelle Pieczynski
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

#96 Teresa Mathews
: 5' 1"; Freshman
: GK

#16 Trish O'Dwyer
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: F