WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Playing against its second top-10 opponent of the season, the Monmouth University field hockey team fell to No. 6 Penn State, 7-1, Saturday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field.  Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) scored the Hawks' lone goal, her team-leading sixth of the season, which was the first goal allowed by the Nittany Lions (7-2) in three games.

PSU struck just over a minute into the game as Kelsey Amy scored off a cross from Ashtin Klinger to jump ahead 1-0.  The Hawks got on the board in the eighth minute after being awarded a penalty corner.  Senior Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) inserted the ball along the left side to Tara Brown (Hatboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) who fired a low shot towards cage which Pieczynski got a stick on for her 47th career marker.  The Lions responded with four more goals capped off by a penalty stroke by Brittany Grzywacz with 35 seconds left to head into the break ahead 5-1.

PSU tacked on two more tallies in the second half, including Amy's second of the game, to earn its fifth-straight victory.

Junior Teresa Mathews (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) turned away five shots, while classmate Ali Askinas (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) and senior Nicole Manziano (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe) each chipped in  with a defensive save.  Ayla Halus earned the win in cage for the Lions, registering five saves.

Penn State outshot the Hawks, 21-9, and held a slight advantage with eight corner opportunities compared MU's seven.

Monmouth begins a seven-game road swing as it travels to Philadelphia, Pa. this upcoming Friday for a battle with Saint Joe's at 3 p.m.

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