FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Senior Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) and sophomore Amanda Schoenfeld (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) combined to register nine points as the Monmouth University field hockey team downed Sacred Heart, 4-2, in Northeast Conference play on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks, who have earned back-to-back road NEC victories, improve to 4-11 overall and 2-1 against league opponents, while the Pioneers fall to 5-8 on the season and 0-3 in conference action.
Schoenfeld, who had a career-high five points on the day, recorded three assists which sets a new Monmouth single-game record.
"It was great to get consecutive wins," stated head coach Carli Figlio, who collected her 50th career win. "We built character this weekend and learned how come together under adverse conditions. I couldn't be more proud of this team."
The Hawks struck twice within the first 4:13 of the game to earn a quick 2-0 lead. Freshman Orla Macken (Dublin, Ireland/Rathdown School) connected with Schoenfeld along the baseline of the circle. The sophomore sent a pass across the goal mouth to Pieczynski, who finished off the one-timer for her first goal of the afternoon. Less than two minute later, graduate Tara Brown (Hatboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) moved the ball into the circle and dished off to Schoenfeld who worked around SHU's goalkeeper Mary Altepeter for her fourth goal of the season.
In the 20th minute, Sacred Heart's Lindsey Kasten cut the Hawks' lead to 2-1 with her deflection from Sarah Bergman's shot off a corner play, while eight minutes into the second half, Stephanie Frey's diving tip in front of the far post gave the Pioneers the equalizer.
The Hawks answered four minutes later when Schoenfeld found Pieczynski in the circle where she notched her 10th goal of the season, and 51st of her career. With less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Blue and White added an insurance tally when Schoenfeld sent a corner insert to the top of the circle where junior Trish O'Dwyer settled it for a blast from Macken that found its way to the back of the cage for her first career goal, which gave MU a 4-2 advantage.
Junior Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) turned away nine shots in cage for the Blue and White for her second straight victory, while Altepeter recorded five saves on the afternoon.
Sacred Heart outshot the Hawks, 21-12, and held a slight edge in penalty corner opportunities, 12-11.
Monmouth, which finished its seven-game road swing with a 4-3 record, return home on Friday, October 19th as it welcomes Bryant into West Long Branch in a pivotal Northeast Conference matchup, beginning at 4 p.m.
Follow Monmouth Field Hockey on Twitter: @MonmouthFH
"Like" Monmouth University Field Hockey on Facebook.
Visit the social media home of the Blue and White: www.GoMUHawks.com/connect
