WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University's (10-7, 6-2 MAAC) women's lacrosse team locked up a home game in the first round of the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday by dismissing Iona College (9-8, 5-3 MAAC) 17-10  at Monmouth Stadium.

The Hawks will host Iona in a first round game on Saturday at Monmouth Stadium. The game time is still to be determined. This release on will be updated as soon as information can be verified.

We worked a lot on our shooting and movement on and off ball, so our players were moving quicker with and without the ball and I think that created better opportunities," said Monmouth first year head coach Eileen Ghent. "Stopping a two-game losing streak was very important, especially heading into the MAAC Tournament. Scoring 17 goals gives our attack momentum but also our defense a lot of trust in them too."

Monmouth raced out to a 10-2 lead over the first 15:20, prompting an Iona goalie change. The Hawks would score two more but Iona was able to net three goals in the final 11:50 and the MU lead stood at 12-5 at the break.

Sophomore Alexa Smith (Westhampton Beach, NY/Westhampton Beach) had a career-high six goals in the contest, including three over a 3:11 span as Monmouth built it's first half lead.  Senior Michelle Gonzales (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) had a hat trick, including going 2-for-2 in free position goals. Junior Olivia Higson (Cheadle Hulme, England/Withington Girls School) also had a hat trick in the win. Marial Pierce (Middleburg, VA/St. John's Catholic Prep) had a goal and three assists but also corralled six ground balls and had a pair of caused turnovers.

"I think Lex [Alexa Smith] is very indicative of what the other attackers are doing," said Ghent. "Because she is a cutter she often creates opportunities but her teammates are the ones that finish the opportunities by getting her the ball. If the ball doesn't get to her she doesn't score but she was due for a breakout day and six goals is pretty impressive."

Iona tallied three of the first four goals of the second half, cutting Monmouth's lead to 13-8 on Rachelle Serafini's goal with 20:16 to play. Smith and Gonzales combined for back to back goals to give the Hawks a seven goal lead before Christine Gironda scored with 6:56 to get one for the Gaels. Monmouth answered with a pair of goals before Pamela Giordano scored for Iona with 1:21 left to finish the scoring at 17-10.

Senior Caroline Huelster (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) made eight saves and had a pair of ground balls. Defender Nicole Duca (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) had three caused turnovers while midfielder Kate Ryan (Morton, PA/Springfield) had a pair of goals and five ground balls in the win.

The 17 goals tied a career high for the Hawks and snapped a two-game stretch of six goal efforts- both losses for the Blue & White. Monmouth dominated in shots in the first half 23-10 while committing just three turnovers and earning 10 ground balls compared to just three for the Gaels. The second half was a different story as each team had 12 shots, 12 ground balls and Monmouth committed 12 turnovers.

Iona was led by Giordano's four goals while four other players had a goal each. Serafini came off the bench to add in three points on a two goals and an assist. McCaffrey had seven saves in 44 minutes of work for the Gaels.