WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Despite two goals from sophomore Patricia O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort), the Monmouth University field hockey team fell to its in-state rival Rider University, 3-2, Thursday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field. With the loss, which snaps the Hawks' six-game winning streak, the Blue and White fall to 12-5 (4-1 NEC) on the season, while the Broncs improve to 14-1 (5-0 NEC).
"We played really hard today and showed a ton of heart," said head coach Carli Figlio. "We look forward to Sunday when we can recognize our seniors who have done so much for this program."
MU looked to take the early lead in the eighth minute as sophomore Alex Carroll's (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) shot off a corner attempt was pushed away by Rider's goalkeeper Rebecca Lotito. The rebound caromed off Lotito to Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) along the endline. The junior took a shot that hit off the left post keeping the game scoreless.
Rider broke the ice in the 17th minute on Sandra Penas' backhanded shot from the left side. Monmouth responded 7:22 later as Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) dribbled into the circle towards the baseline where she sent a pass to the stick of O'Dwyer who chipped it between Lotito's legs to even the score at 1-1.
The Broncs took the lead a minute and half later on Eefje Kok's tally and Virginia Egusquiza gave Rider a two goal advantage with her strike off a penalty corner to enter halftime ahead, 3-1.
O'Dwyer recorded her second tally of the contest and 11th goal of the season in the 56th minute when she redirected a pass from graduate Morganne Firmstone (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) inside the right post, to cut Rider's lead to one, 3-2. Junior Nicole Manziano (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Township), Carroll and Pieczynski all had shot attempts in the final ten minutes, but they were not enough to extend the contest.
MU's sophomore goalkeeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) made four saves in the cage for the Hawks, while Lotito turned away six shots for Rider.
Rider, which leads the nation in penalty corner attempts per game, had four less chances than the Hawks who held the advantage, 8-4. The Broncs outshot the Blue and White, 13-11.
Monmouth returns to action this Sunday, October 23rd, at 2 p.m. as it welcomes Saint Francis (Pa.) for the final regular season contest on So Sweet A Cat Field this season. Prior to the contest, the field hockey program will honor its six seniors (Morganne Firmstone, Tara Brown, Elly Rosati, Melissa Murphy, Kayleigh Kalamar and Ashley McPeek) in its annual Senior Day celebration.
