NEWARK, DEL. - Junior Nicole Manziano (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) recorded a defensive save as time expired in regulation and classmate Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) scored her third goal of the contest 9:32 into overtime to give the Monmouth University field hockey team a 3-2 victory over the University of Delaware, Wednesday night at Rullo Stadium.
The Monmouth defensive withstood two penalty corner opportunities by the Blue Hens in the final seconds of regulation. The first attempt by UD was blocked which eventually led to a second chance that was stopped along the left side of the cage by Manziano for her second defensive save of the night and fourth of the season.
Pieczynski, who now has two hat tricks this year and three in her career, was one-on-one with Delaware's goalkeeper, Noelle Diana, in the circle where she made a move towards her right and fired a shot into an open cage for the game-winner and her eighth goal of the season.
"Tonight was a great team effort where every player gave 110 percent," said head coach Carli Figlio. "We executed our press extremely well which allowed for our counter attack to be effective. Nicole Manziano came up big with her defensive saves and Michelle Pieczynski was outstanding on the forward line."
Monmouth (6-3) broke the ice in the 21st minute of the game when junior Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) found Pieczynski in the circle who took a backhanded shot from five yards out past Diana for a 1-0 Hawks' advantage.
Delaware got on the board 11 minutes into the second half on Kelsey McKee's goal off a corner opportunity.
With the score tied at 1-1 with 10:07 left in regulation, Pieczynski scored her second of the contest on a shot inside the near post from the left end line which gave MU a 2-1 lead. Delaware (5-4) responded less than two minutes later as Meredith Bonnell tapped in a rebound in front of the cage to knot the score at 2-2.
MU's sophomore goalkeeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J. (Rancocas Valley) made five saves in cage for the Hawks, while Diana turned away eight shots in the losing effort for the Blue Hens.
Each team registered 13 shots, while MU controlled the penalty corners, 8-6.
The Blue and White return to action this Saturday as it travels to Easton, Pennsylvania for a neutral site battle with No. 16 Albany at Lafayette College. The game is slated for 1 p.m.
