LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Monmouth University field hockey team fell at Rider, 1-0, Friday night at Ben Cohen Field in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Freshman goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) made six saves in cage for the Blue and White, which falls to 7-7 (0-1 MAAC) on the year.
On a penalty corner in the ninth minute, Rider (8-5, 1-0 MAAC) sent a shot towards cage that was cleared off the line by sophomore Casey Hanna (Seaville, N.J./Ocean City), but Melyssa Alonso was there to knock in the loose ball to give the Broncs the only goal they would need.
The Hawks' best chance of the night came in the 20th minute when Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) inserted a corner opportunity which made its way to the stick of Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional [Iowa]). The junior chipped a shot towards cage that deflected off the stick of a Rider defender and rang off the cross bar which kept Monmouth off the board. Rider's goalkeeper Joelle Prettyman turned away the other four shots on target to earn the clean sheet.
Ercolino fired a team-high three shots, while Schoenfeld and Trish O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort) both registered two shots. O'Dwyer had her goal streak snapped at seven games.
For the game, MU outshot the Broncs, 11-8, and held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners.
Monmouth continues MAAC play on Sunday, October 19th, when it travels to Fairfield, Conn. for a clash with Sacred Heart at 1 p.m.
-@MonmouthFH-
