WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Monmouth University field hockey team, which earned the No. 1 seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship, fell to fourth-seeded Fairfield 2-1 on Friday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field. Monmouth, which had its game-tying goal with 3:01 left in regulation called back, ends its season at 8-11.
“We certainly didn't want it to end this way,” commented head coach Carli Figlio. “I think we played hard for 70 minutes and we came into the weekend with some injuries that prevented us from playing at 100 percent, but no means did we not give our entire heart and souls out there today. I really want to thank the seniors [Cori Allen, Lauren Horner and Casey Higgins] for everything they have done during their time here. Being able to work hard for them next year, host again next year will be our goals and I think it will be exciting to develop and grow the tradition we have going.”
The Hawks, who claimed consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championships and the right to host the championship, fell behind just 2:09 into the match, as MAAC Player of the Year Ann Burgoyne worked the ball around a diving Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) and sent a shot towards an empty cage. The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Casey Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City) got a stick on it, but the ball crossed the goal line to give the Stags a 1-0 lead.
Monmouth, which outshot the Stags 7-1 in the first half, knotted the contest in the 52nd minute when Georgia Garden Bachop (Dunedin, New Zealand/Queen Margaret) converted a Fairfield turnover into the equalizer, knotting the game at 1-1, for the freshman forward's second of the season.
Fairfield (8-9) responded in the 60th minute on Burgoyne's second of the match and 19th of the year, a deflection into the upper netting, off an assist from Emily McCauley.
Monmouth registered another game-tying score with 3:01 on the clock, but the score was eventually called off for body contact within the circle. The Hawks earned a pair of penalty corners in the final 30 seconds, including one with no time on the clock, but did not register a shot.
Fairfield's Caitlin Bennett made eight saves in cage for the Stags, while Piersanti made a pair of second half stops for the Hawks.
Monmouth outshot Fairfield 15-8 in the match, and held a 5-3 edge in penalty corner opportunities.
Hanna along with senior Cori Allen (Gibbsboro, NJ/Eastern Regional [Iowa]) were named to the MAAC All-Touranment Team.
-@MonmouthFH-
