PHILADELPHIA, Pa.-Senior Sam Lillo's (Short Hills, N.J./Milburn) free position
goal with 7:02 remaining proved to be the game winner in a back and forth
affair between Monmouth University (1-3) and Saint Joe's (1-2), one that the
Hawks won 10-9 on Tuesday afternoon.
"It was a great team effort," said Head Coach Denise Wescott. "Everywhere on
the field we were making big plays when we needed to. We put the ball in cage when we needed it most
and defensively we stopped their best drivers towards the end. I thought we
were more proactive today, when we needed a goal we settled in and made sure to
get a good look. Defensively, when we needed to get a stop we were able to. "
The win was the first for Monmouth in 2012 and avenged last year's 11-6 loss to
SJU, who slips to 1-3. Sophomore transfer Kaleigh Gibbons (Candia, N.H./Manchester
Central/Robert Morris) kept the Hawks in the game in the first half, scoring a
career-high three goals in the first 30 minutes. Sophomore Alex Marino (Howell,
N.J./Freehold Twp.) also notched a career-high three goals, including two in
the second half to regain the lead for MU.
"We moved the ball well enough to open opportunities on the back side of the
defense and Kaleigh kept getting open and getting good shots off. Alex Marino got some quality shots off today,
even the ones that didn't go in, she definitely helped us offensively. Our
whole defensive unit played well, I thought L.J. (Lauren Johnson) and Kaliegh
did a nice job on Dinn, she really didn't hurt us as much in the second half."
Freshman Karlee Dean (Medford Lakes, N.J./Shawnee) tied the game up at 7-7 just
three minutes into the half before Dean fed Marino at the 26:03 mark for
Monmouth's first lead of the game. Four minutes later senior Grace Dinn tied
the game for Saint Joe's but Marino answered on a free position shot with just
under 18 minutes left in regulation. SJU's
Val Paolucci scored for the second time in the game at 12:19 to knot things up
at 9-9. Starting at the 10:08 mark Lillo peppered SJU goalie Alisha Aquilino
with three shots, the last of which came on a free position attempt that beat Aquilino
for the eventual game-winner. Saint Joe's
won the ensuing draw and earned a free
position shot that was promptly turned away by MU goalie Katie Donohoe
(Peterborough, Ontario/Holy Cross Secondary School). The home team Hawks would get two more shots
off in the final five minutes but could not tie it up and MU held on for the
one-goal victory.
Dinn got SJU on the board just 47 seconds into the game but Gibbons tallied her
first goal for the Blue & White a little less than 90 seconds later to tie
it up. Saint Joe's built a 3-1 lead with
back to back goals before Marino scored her first marker with 18:11 remaining
in the first half to cut the lead to one.
Seven minutes later junior Kirstyn Urbas (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.)
tied the game up. The teams traded goals
over the next three minutes when Saint Joe's scored three unanswered goals to
take what appeared to be a commanding 7-4 lead with just three minutes to
play. MU showed its resolve, scoring two
goals in the final 1:44 to cut the lead to one at halftime. With 1:44 left in the first, Gibbons scored for
the third time in the half, which was followed up by senior Lynn White's (Deer
Park, N.Y./Deer Park) marker 48 seconds later.
Donohoe made eight saves in the win had five ground balls and three caused
turnovers. Gibbons added three ground balls, a caused turnover and a draw
control to her career-high four point effort.
Dinn finished with three goals for SJU, with Jen Peters scoring twice.
The two teams were almost identical on shots, with MU holding a slight 23-22
advantage. Saint Joe's controlled 13 draws in the game, including 11 in the
first half alone. The Blue & White had
one less turnover than SJU (15-14).
Monmouth is back at home on Saturday for a 12 p.m. game against defending MAAC
Champions Canisius College. That game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m.
