WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University field hockey team dropped a non-conference affair to visiting Rutgers University in the third-annual "Stick it to Cancer" game, Friday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 0-3, while the Scarlet Knights improve to 2-1 on the year.
RU broke the ice in the 20th minute as Carlie Rough completed the give-and-go in the circle from Alyssa Bull to give the visiting team a first-half lead. Seven minutes into the second frame, Lisa Patrone tipped in the ball following a scrum in front of the cage, while the offensive attack continued six minutes later as Sophia Wright tuck the ball inside the far post off a penalty corner to give RU a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Hawks got on the board in the 56th minute when senior Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) got two shots on Rutgers' goalkeeper, Sarah Stuby, which were turned away by her right pad. Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) collected a loose ball and fired to the back of the cage for her first goal of the season, cutting the Scarlet Knight's lead to 3-1.
In the 64th minute, Cornelia Duffin finished a one-timer past Monmouth's keeper Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) for the final Rutgers' tally.
Mathews (0-3) turned away eight shots, while rookie Lauren Horner (Shnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and junior Ali Askinas (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Hunderson) each registered a defensive save. Stuby made four saves in the victory for the Scarlet Knights.
RU outshot the Hawks 25-10, including 11-0 in the first half, while holding the advantage in the penalty corners, 15-5.
Today's "Stick it to Cancer" game, which supports the National Foundation for Cancer Research, was played for the first time in West Long Branch. The Hawks are now 2-1 in "Stick it to Cancer" contests.
Monmouth will continue a four-game home stand as it welcomes in Fairfield on Sunday for a 2 p.m. start.
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