MUFH FALLS SHORT TO NO. 16 ALBANY, 2-1

EASTON, PA. - Despite an early goal from junior Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West), the Monmouth University field hockey team fell to No. 16 Albany, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Rappolt Field on the campus of Lafayette College. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 6-4 on the season while the Great Danes improve to 7-3 on the year.

The one goal deficit for MU is the lowest scoring margin against a nationally-ranked opponent in the program's 15-year history.

"We played a tough game against a very physical Albany team," said head coach Carli Figlio. "We couldn't capitalize on our opportunities which hurt us down the stretch. We look to correct our mistakes tomorrow against a very fast Temple team."

Monmouth got on the board 33 seconds into the contest as senior Kayleigh Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) dribbled the ball down the right side of the field and sent a feed into the circle that was slowed by an Albany defender. Pieczynski came in from the top of the circle and blasted a shot inside the right post for her ninth goal of a season which gave MU a 1-0 advantage.

With 30 minutes left in the half, the Blue and White looked to build on its lead as Patricia O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort) was one-on-one with the Great Danes goalkeeper, Kristi Trouch, but the sophomore's shot attempted trickled wide of the cage.

Junior Nicole Manziano (Monroe, N.J./Monroe Township) recorded one of her three defensive saves on the afternoon off an Albany corner in the 11th minute, but the ball caromed off her stick right to Albany's Corrine McConville who fired a shot to the back of the cage to even the score at 1-1.

Starting the second half in a deadlock, Albany got the game-winner 5:50 into the frame as Nina Walters collected a loose ball off a corner and fired a shot past Monmouth's sophomore goalkeeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) for the difference maker.

Mathews made five saves in cage for the Hawks, while Trouch turned away four shots for Albany.

Each team recorded seven penalty corners, while the Great Danes outshot the Hawks, 14-10.

Monmouth returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, September 25th, as it travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a 3 p.m. non-conference battle with Temple.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#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