WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Despite goals from three different players, the Monmouth University field hockey team fell to Princeton, 4-3, in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament Play-In game, Wednesday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. The Hawks, making their NCAA Tournament debut, conclude their season at 13-8 with the defeat, while the Tigers improve to 8-10 and advance to take on No. 2 Maryland in College Park, Md. on Saturday.
“It was great to host the NCAA Tournament on our field,” commented head coach Carli Figlio, who guided her squad to double-digit wins for the third time in eight years.” Having the crowd here to support us again and give us energy when we needed it was just magical. It was a fast game and I think Princeton executed on the attacking side of the field and we had just as many opportunities but we couldn't seem to finish.”
Princeton jumped out an early lead in the 10th minute when Allison Evans knocked in a rebound for her first goal of the day. Monmouth responded in the 21st minute when senior Trish O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort) dribbled to the end line and sent a cross to the opposite post to the stick of freshman Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, Pa./Berks Catholic) who swept in her 11th goal of the season to even the score.
Eight minutes later, O'Dwyer inserted a penalty corner to freshman Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) along the left side. The rookie unloaded a shot that beat Tigers' goalkeeper Anya Gersoff to give the Blue and White a 2-1 advantage.
Princeton responded with under two minutes left in the half as Teresa Benvenuti converted a successful penalty corner attempt to enter the break all knotted up at 2-2.
The Hawks looked to take another lead five minutes into the second stanza. O'Dwyer, on an attacking corner, inserted to Laszlo along the left side who played it back low to the senior. O'Dwyer cut towards the middle and sent a low shot toward the far post that was pushed away by Gersoff's blocker. On the ensuing attack by the Tigers, Benvenuti's backhanded chip from the top of the circle gave Princeton a lead it would never relinquish.
Evans added another marker in the 65th minute off a corner play and Monmouth's Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional [Iowa]) converted a penalty stroke to bring the Hawks within one with just 13 second left in regulation.
Freshman goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) made two saves in cage for Monmouth, while Gersoff turned away three shots for the win.
Monmouth edged Princeton in penalty corner opportunities, 6-5, while each side fired nine shots on the afternoon.
“I said to our team earlier that the senior class really stepped up in a leadership way and we really need to carry the torch from here on out,” added Figlio. “I am extremely proud of the culmination of the season. I couldn't have asked for a better group and I hope we can move forward and continue to make the Monmouth community and alumni proud of our accomplishments on the field.”
O'Dwyer, playing her final game in a Monmouth uniform, ends her career as the all-time points leader, totaling 143 after her two assists. The Ireland native finishes second all-time with 53 goals and first in program history with 37 helpers. Classmate Amanda Schoenfeld (West Sayville, N.Y./Connetquot), who had a breakout year with a career-best 40 points on the strength of 16 goals and eight assists, finishes her career sixth all-time with 75 points (29 goals, 17 assists).
Figlio, the 2014 MAAC Coach of the Year, returns 15 letter winners from her MAAC Championship squad, including nine starters to next year's squad.
-@MonmouthFH-
