NIAGARA, N.Y.- Monmouth University's women's lacrosse team improved to 6-3 on the season and got its first league win of 2015 after dispatching Niagara University (3-6) 12-7 on Wednesday afternoon.
Monmouth junior attacker Michelle Gonzales (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) recorded a career-high six points, coming on three goals and three assists while Marial Pierce (Middleburg, Va./St. John's Catholic Prep) finished with five points.
Junior defender Kristina Vangeli (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) became the school's all-time leader in draw controls; finishing with two to give her 161 career DCs.
“I was really pleased with our first half combination of Marial and Michelle and our ball rotation,” said sixth year Head Coach Denise Wescott. “I think we lost possession way too much in the second half, especially being back checked.”
The Hawks held an 8-2 lead coming out of halftime, Monmouth added to its lead to build a 12-4 lead with 3:47 to play. Niagara tallied three goals in the final three minutes as most of the Blue & White's starters were done for the day.
Olivia Higson (Cheadle Hulme, England/Withington Girls' School) scored just 32 seconds in to the matchup; but two minutes later Niagara tied it up at 1-1. The Hawks launched a six-goal barrage, taking a 7-1 lead with just under 10 minutes play. Pierce tallied three goals and assisted on another while junior Michelle Gonzales (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) recorded a goal and a pair of assists. Niagara broke the run with 2:43 to go but Monmouth sophomore Alex Stambaugh (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) ended the first half scoring with just over a minute to play; giving Monmouth a six goal lead.
Gonzales led all scorers and added a pair of caused turnovers and three ground balls to her totals. Pierce filled the stat sheet with three draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover. Emily Barbieri (Parsippany, N.J./DePaul Catholic) and Claudia LaMarca (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) each had three points, while Vangeli had three caused turnovers to lead the defense. Goaltender Katie Donohoe (Peterborough, Ontario/Holy Cross Catholic Secondary) made six saves while allowing four goals in 57 minutes of work for the Hawks.
Niagara was led by Erin Patenaude who scored a pair of goals while five other Purple Eagles tallied scores on the day. Goalie Andrea Francisco made six saves in the setback.
The Hawks held a 24-21 advantage in shots while Niagara won 13 of the 21 draw controls. MU is now 3-0 on the road this season. The game marked the third straight game in which Monmouth allowed seven goals and the sixth game overall allowing seven or less goals.
Monmouth has a week off before jumping back on the road to face rival Quinnipiac on April 1 at 3 PM.
