WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – In its highest goal production since the 2012 season, the Monmouth University field hockey team overwhelmed Siena as five different Hawks found the back of the cage en route to a 9-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory, Friday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. Senior Trish O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort) recorded her second seven-point game of the season powered by her third-career hat trick, including her 50th career goal, to lead the Blue and White, which clinched a berth in the upcoming MAAC Championships by virtue of the win and a Bryant loss. Senior Amanda Schoenfeld (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot) and Meg Donahue (Wyomissing N.Y./Berks Catholic) both scored twice, while Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional [Iowa]) and freshman Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) each found the back of the cage.
The Hawks clinch the program's 10th postseason berth and their first MAAC Championship appearance. The tournament, which will be hosted by the highest ranked full MAAC member, will feature Rider, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart, with seeds still yet to be determined as the Hawks (3-1 MAAC) and Rider (3-1 MAAC) both have one game remaining. If both teams are victorious on Sunday, the two sides would share the MAAC Regular Season Title, with the tournament held in Lawrenceville due to Rider's head-to-head win to begin conference play. If the Hawks defeat Bryant and the Broncs fall to Siena, the tournament would be in West Long Branch.
“We went into this week focusing on taking one day at a time and making the tournament and I am proud of how our team stayed focused and determined,” commented head coach Carli Figlio, who captured her 70th career win. “Having the strong attack and solid defense was important to a complete, well-rounded game. We are looking forward to Sunday and the team and I are excited to honor our senior class prior to the game.”
The Blue and White struck in the first two minutes of the game when O'Dwyer and Schoenfeld completed the give and go in the circle to give MU a lead it would never relinquish. Five minutes later, Donahue hammered home a rebound before Allen scored her second goal of the year, connecting on a shot inside the right post in the 15th minute. O'Dwyer found Schoenfeld in front in the 26th minute to stake the Hawks to a 4-0 lead before Siena capitalized on its third-straight corner, the only opportunities it had all afternoon, to enter the break down by three.
The offense continued to put pressure on the Saints two minutes into the half on Laszlo's first career marker off a corner chance. Donahue tipped in a shot in front for her second of the afternoon and O'Dwyer scored her 14th and 15th goals of the year 3:09 apart, before Schoenfeld capped off the Monmouth scoring with her deflection in the 67th minute.
O'Dywer registered her third-career seven-point game, while Schoenfeld compiled her second-straight six-point affair with two goals and two assists. Donahue pushed her point total to 22 which leads Monmouth newcomers, while Maartje Wicherink (Hilversum, Netherlands/Gemeetelijk Gymnasium Hilversum) posted a pair of assists on the afternoon.
Freshman Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) earned the win for Monmouth, not recording a save, while senior Amanda Westerweller (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) controlled the cage for 17 minutes. Mary Drabich turned away six shots in the losing effort
The Hawks controlled the stat sheet, outshooting the Saints 27-3 and holding a 14-3 advantage in corners.
Monmouth, in search for the program's first regular season crown since 2000, hosts Bryant at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Prior to the game, the Hawks will honor its seniors: Trish O'Dwyer, Amanda Schoenfeld, Amanda Westerweller, Hannah Loux and Brianna Dunlap.
