WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Fairfield University scored the tying goal as regulation expired and recorded the game-winner 4:16 into the overtime session to defeat the Monmouth University field hockey team, 5-4, Sunday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field.  Michelle Pieczynski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Buck West) scored twice for the Blue and White, giving her 101 career points and becoming the first MU player to surpass the 100-point plateau.

After the ball went out of bounds down the right sideline, Fairfield's (2-2) Felicitas Heinen fired a cross in front of the goal mouth which found the stick of Sarah Wickles, who tipped the ball over MU goalkeeper Teresa Mathews to knot the score at 4-4.  Following a turnover near midfield in overtime, Hillary Fitts created a penalty corner opportunity for the Stags which Nikki McLucas capitalized on for the game-winner.

Monmouth (0-4) got on the board 1:15 into the game as Kimmy Baligian (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) inserted a corner to the top of the circle where Nicole Manziano (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) stopped it and pushed to Trish O'Dwyer who blasted a shot past the Stags' keeper Maddy Sposito for her first goal of the year, creating a 1-0 Monmouth lead.

Fairfield answered, scoring two goals within seven minutes, but the Hawks responded with two goals of their own.  Manziano played a ball into the middle of the circle where Pieczynski redirected it for her first goal of the game.  Just under five minutes before the break, Tara Brown (Hatboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) played a ball near the far post where a lunging Ali Askinas (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) tipped in for her first career goal and a 3-2 Monmouth lead which it would bring into the break.

In the second half, Brown took a feed from Baligian off a set corner play.  The graduate then sent a pass in the middle of the circle where Pieczysnki tipped in her second goal of the game, inside the right post, to register her 44th career goal.  The Stags struck nearly three minutes later on Molly Caffrey's goal to cut the Hawks' lead to 4-3.

Mathews made two saves in the loss, while Sposito turned away five MU shots in the victory.

Fairfield outshot the Hawks, 15-12, while holding the advantage on the penalty corners, 13-4.

Monmouth returns to action this Wednesday at 4:30 as it takes on the visiting Owls of Temple.

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