EAST LANSING, Mich. – Three second-half goals propelled Michigan State past the Monmouth University field hockey team, 4-2, in the final game of the Auto-Owners Insurance MSU Invitational, Sunday morning on Ralph Young Field. The Hawks, who received goals from Amanda Schoenfeld (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) and Alex Carroll (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and a career-high nine saves from goalkeeper Amanda Westerweller (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel), fall to 0-3 on the year, while the Spartans improve to 2-3.
Michigan State got on the scoreboard first in the seventh minute when Adelle Lever redirected Katherine Jamieson's shot past Westerweller for an early 1-0 lead.
Monmouth answered in the 14th minute when freshman Erin Hoag (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) sent a feed past the Spartans' defensive line to Schoenfeld, who finished off the breakaway with her first goal of the year to even the score. Hoag's helper is her first collegiate point in her third career game.
The Hawks capitalized on a penalty corner opportunity in the 26th minute to take the lead. Freshman Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) sent an entry pass to the top of the circle to junior Melanie Dawson (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional/UNC), who controlled the pass and pushed it forward into the circle setting up Carroll's blast past the Spartan's keeper, Molly Cassidy, for a 2-1 advantage which the Blue and White carried into the intermission.
The Spartans evened the score 12 minutes into the second half, as Andrea Donaldson finished off a long feed from Victoria Radwell, before jumping ahead on Jamieson's breakaway tally in the 55th minute. With just over three minute remaining in regulation, Michigan State earned an insurance goal on Allie Aher's unassisted marker.
Senior Ali Askinas (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) chipped in three shots for the Hawks, all reaching cage, while Carroll and Hanna Loux (Souderton, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite) each fired two shots.
Westerweller, making her third start of the season, made a career-high nine saves, while Hoag added two defensive saves from the backline. Cassidy turned away six Monmouth shots in the win.
The Spartans outshot the Hawks, 22-9, and held a 7-2 advantage in penalty corner opportunities.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, September 14th, as it clashes with Temple in Philadelphia, Pa., before its home opener on Sunday, September 15th when it welcomes Lehigh to West Long Branch, N.J.
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