WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Freshman Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, Pa./Berks Catholic) scored her first career goal, but the Monmouth University field hockey team fell to visiting Bucknell, 3-1, Sunday afternoon.
The Bison (1-1) built their lead in the first half, scoring all three goals over a 25-minute span. Liz Wills collected her own rebound off a corner opportunity in the seventh minute and fired high into the netting for the game's first goal. Cassie Lawrence capitalized off a corner 13 minutes later, driving a shot from the top of the circle past sophomore goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan). With four minutes left in the opening half, Amie Pritchard capped off Bucknell's scoring with her first of the year.
Freshman Julie Laszio (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) blasted a shot from the top of the circle 15 minutes into the second half that was turned away by Bucknell's goalkeeper Shannon Keen. Senior Amanda Schoenfeld corralled the ball along the left side and sent a shot toward net which rang off the post keeping the Hawks off the board.
With just five minute left in regulation, senior Trish O'Dwyer (Dublin, Ireland/Loreto Beaufort) played a ball into the circle to the stick of Maartje Wicherink (Hilversum, Netherlands/Gemeetelijk Gymnasium Hilversum). The rookie then dished to a driving Donahue along the right side where she took one touch to the back of the cage for her first career goal.
“Credit Bucknell as they played as a team and executed their opportunities,” stated head coach Carli Figlio. “We saw some great play from our returners as well as our young kids starting to get into the mix.”
Piersanti made four saves in cage for the Hawks, while junior Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional/Iowa) registered a defensive save. Keen also made four saves in the winning effort for Bucknell.
For the game, BU outshot the Hawks, 13-8, and held a 7-5 advantage in penalty corner opportunities.
Monmouth will welcome its second straight Patriot League opponent when Lafayette visits West Long Branch next Friday, September 5th, at 4 p.m.
- @MonmouthFH-
