WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Four different Hawks scored, capped off by freshman Teresa Warner's (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Sacred Heart) game-winner with 2:05 left in regulation, to lift the Monmouth University field hockey team to a 4-3 victory over visiting Rider, Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. Sophomores Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, PA/Berks Catholic) and Rachel Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh), and senior Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, NJ/Eastern Regional [Iowa]) also scored for the Blue and White, which improves to 5-9 overall and 2-0 in MAAC play, while its rival slips to 9-5 and 1-1 in league play.
After Monmouth tied the score for the third time, the Hawks took a free hit and moved it down the left side. Donahue took the ball towards the end line and shoveled a pass back towards the beginning of the circle where Warner connected on a hard shot that knocked off of Rider's goalkeeper, Hannah Isaacs, and inside the near post for the game-deciding goal. The goal was Warner's seventh of the year and second game-winner of the season.
"Our defense, anchored by Casey Hanna, was really strong today and getting a balanced attack with four different players scoring was key in getting today's victory," commented head coach Carli Figlio, who lead Monmouth to its first defeat of Rider in the regular season since 2002. "I thought Lauren Horner had a fantastic game and Rachel Konowal and Cori Allen in the attacking sense was really strong for us. There is a lot to build on but I think all the credit goes to these girls as they really came out and executed."
Rider opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Jessica Randazzo sent a strike from 20 yards out into the circle that was deflected past Monmouth's goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) by Allison Baligian to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead.
The Hawks answered with 2:06 left in the first half, when Casey Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City), following a tackle in the defensive zone, carried the ball 30 yards avoiding defenders before dishing off to Konowal along the right side. Konowal let loose a hard shot toward the far post which was deflected by Donahue for her second goal of the year.
Following the break, Rider regained the lead 2:08 into the second half when Randazzo tipped in a loose ball in front of the cage following a Broncs' corner to make the score 2-1. Monmouth responded again 10 minutes later as Warner unloaded a shot that was saved by Isaacs, but Konowal was on the right post to hammer in the rebound for her second marker of the year.
Baligian added her second goal of the game in the 59th minute, capitalizing on a cross by Carli Spaeder in front of the cage to push Rider ahead for the third time, yet Monmouth evened the score again four minutes later. Junior Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) sent a hard, low shot towards the far post where a diving Allen knocked the ball into the back of the cage for her eighth goal of the season. Monmouth's defense did not allow a Rider scoring opportunity for the final 11:03 of regulation.
Piersanti made six saves on the afternoon to move to 6-1 in her career in MAAC regular season games. Ercolino added a pair of defensive saves for the Hawks, while sophomore Sydney Southard (Lorton, VA/South County) registered her first save of the year. Issacs, making her second start of the season, made three saves in defeat for Rider.
Rider outshot MU, 17-13, and held a 10-7 edge in penalty corner opportunities.
Monmouth returns to action next weekend with a pair of home MAAC games. On Friday, October 23rd, the Hawks welcome in Sacred Heart to So Sweet A Cat Field at 4:00 p.m., before taking on Quinnipiac on Sunday, October 25th at 1:00 p.m. Prior to the game against the Bobcats, the Hawks will hold its annual Senior Day celebration.
-@MonmouthFH-
