LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Seniors Michelle Pieczynski (Dolyestown, Pa./Central Buck West) and Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) each recorded a goal and an assist as the third-seeded Monmouth University field hockey team defeated second-seeded Saint Francis (Pa.), 3-1, Friday morning in the Northeast Conference semifinals, held at Ben Cohen Field on the campus of Rider University.  The Hawks, who punched a ticket to their fourth-straight NEC Title game, will take on the top-seeded Broncs, while the Red Flash's historic season comes to an end.

“We did a great job focusing on our game plan and it was nice to see our seniors lead the way today,” said head coach Carli Figlio.  “Being in the finals for the fourth-consecutive year is truly a testament of how far we have come as a program.”

Saint Francis struck first in the 15th minute when Selena Adamshick found the back of the cage off a penalty corner opportunity.

The Hawks answered with a pair of goals less than two minutes apart.  With a little over 19 minutes remaining in the half, Trish O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort) inserted a penalty corner to junior classmate Alex Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional), who dished off the Orla Macken (Dublin, Ireland/Rathdown School).  The rookie made a move to her right and unloaded a shot to the far post for the equalizer, her third goal of the year.   

The Hawks jumped on top in the 22nd minute as Carroll received a corner insert at the top of the circle where she found Baligian along the left side.  The forward sent a soft shot towards cage that was stopped by the Northeast Conference Player and Offensive Player of the Year, Pieczynski, who settled the ball and took a backwards stick between the Red Flash's goalkeeper, Katelyn Vitali, legs to give Monmouth a 2-1 advantage.

The Hawks registered another tally, nearly a minute before the break.  Pieczynski chipped the ball to herself to push away from SFU's defensive line and carried the ball into the circle.

She then sent a cross where Baligian dove and tipped the ball inside the left post to give the Blue and White all offense it would need.  

The Monmouth defense kept the Red Flash attack at bay in the second half, successfully turning away eight corner opportunities. Monmouth's goalkeeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas) turned away five shots for her second career postseason victory, while Vitali also turned away five shots in defeat.

Both MU and SFU fired 10 shots for the game, while the Red Flash held a 14-8 corner advantage.