WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University field hockey team fell to No. 7 Syracuse University, 8-1, Friday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field, in the season opening game for both squads. The Orange scored four goals in each half en route to the victory, while Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) notched her program-best 42nd career goal for the Hawks.
"Although we made some mistakes that Syracuse capitalized on, we did some great things on the field today," said head coach Carli Figlio. "We are looking forward to building some of our weaknesses into our strengths as the season progresses."
Syracuse, which is the first nationally ranked program to visit West Long Branch since No. 11 Louisville took on the Hawks in 2008, scored four minutes into the game as Emma Russell connected off a corner to give the Orange a 1-0 lead. Lauren Brooks registered her first goal of the game 13 minutes later to push SU ahead by two.
Monmouth got its best chance of the first half as a turnover in the attacking circle left freshman Chelsea Mann (Greentown, Pa./Wallenpaupack) alone with Syracuse's goalkeeper, Leann Stiver. The rookie's flick towards the left post was pushed away by Stiver's stick, keeping the Hawks off the scoreboard. Kelsey Millman scored back-to-back goals three minutes apart to allow SU to go into the break ahead 4-0.
The Orange struck for four more goals before the Hawks stopped the run with a tally of their own. From the back line, junior Alex Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) played a low, hard feed into the circle where Pieczynski, MU's all-time point leader, deflected the ball past Stiver for the Blue and White's first goal of the season.
Junior goalkeeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) earned her 22nd career start in cage, pushing away eight Syracuse shots. Junior Ali Askinas (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) recorded two defensive saves from the back line, while freshman Lauren Horner (Shnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh), making her first collegiate start, registered a defensive save of her own. Stiver earned the victory in cage, making two saves for the Orange.
Syracuse outshot the Hawks, 26-8, and held an 8-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Monmouth returns to action this Sunday as it travels to Hempstead, N.Y. for a 1 p.m. tilt with Hofstra.
