LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – In the regular season finale, the Monmouth University field hockey team fell to in-state rival Rider, 5-2, Sunday afternoon at Ben Cohen Field. The Hawks, who had their five game winning-streak snapped, will enter next weekend's Northeast Conference Tournament as the third seed and will take on No. 2 Saint Francis (Pa.) in the semifinals. The Broncs, who earned the right to host the four-team tournament with the victory, will take on No. 4 Quinnipiac, which earned a berth to the postseason with its win over Bryant.
On its fourth corner of the half, Rider broke the ice at the 9:56 mark as Alicia Govannicci tipped in Marlaine Schneider's shot from the left side to put the home team ahead, 1-0.
The Hawks evened the score in the 21st minute, capitalizing off their first penalty corner opportunity of the half. Senior Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) inserted a penalty corner to junior Alex Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) along the left side where she blasted a shot that was blocked. The ball caromed right to the stick of sophomore Amanda Schoenfeld (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) who sent a shot into an open cage for her sixth goal of the season.
Nearly a minute and a half later, Sandra Penas put Rider ahead, scoring off a penalty corner but the Hawks had an answer 58 seconds later. Schoenfeld sent a cross to the far post to Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./ Central Buck West) who tucked the ball inside the left post for her team-leading 17th goal of the season.
With score 2-2, Allison Muschs converted a successful penalty stroke into the top left corner to allow the Broncs to enter the break ahead, 3-2. The Broncs added insurance goals in 63rd and 67th minute as Rachel Ippolite and Penas each found the back of the cage to push Rider ahead, 5-2.
Junior Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) made eight saves in cage for the Hawks, while her counterpart, Joelle Prettyman, turned away two shots in the win.
Times for the NEC Tournament will be available on www.NortheastConference.org and www.GoMUHawks.com, when available.
