SYRACUSE, NY – Playing its second consecutive nationally-ranked opponent and its highest-ranked foe in the 19-year history of the program, the Monmouth University field hockey team fell at No. 2 Syracuse University, 5-0, Friday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. Sophomore Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) made nine saves for the Blue and White, while senior Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, NJ/Eastern Regional [Iowa]) and junior Casey Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City) each added a defensive save.
Syracuse (10-0), the 2014 NCAA Tournament Runners-Up, controlled possession in the first half, registering 15 shot attempts and earning six penalty corners, while not allowing Monmouth (3-8) an attacking opportunity. Piersanti and the Hawks' defense stifled the high-powered Orange offense, which entered the game outscoring its opponents 34-8, for the first 27 minutes. SU broke the ice with seven minutes to go in the opening half as Laura Hurff deflected in a shot from Roos Weers to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Hawks earned a couple of chances in the early going of the second stanza, but the Orange defense disrupted a penalty corner and goalkeeper Jess Jecko stacked the pads to thwart sophomore Meg Donahue's (Wyomissing, PA/Berks Catholic) attempt on cage. The Orange added to its lead with goals by Alma Fenne and Liz Sack 1:11 apart to jump ahead by three. Lies Lagerweij and Fenne each found the back of the cage in the 59th and 63rd minute, respectively, to inflate the Syracuse lead to 5-0.
For the game, 16 of Syracuse's 29 shots were on target, while the Orange earned 12 corner chances and yielded just one attacking corner to the Blue and White.
Monmouth continues on for the second game of a three-game road swing on Sunday, October 4th when it travels to Philadelphia, PA for a tilt with La Salle, its first meeting with the Explores since the 2009 season. The game is slated for 1 p.m.
-@MonmouthFH-
