BUFFALO, NY- Monmouth University Women's Lacrosse (12-7, 6-2 MAAC) team earned a trip to its first MAAC Championship game after defeating Marist (9-9, 6-2 MAAC) 9-3 on Friday afternoon on the campus of Canisius College.

"We explained to the team that today was about execution," said Monmouth Head Coach Eileen Ghent. "All the preparation we had, whether it was scouting reports, film or at practice, we knew we were prepared. We were ready and we just needed to do what we do best and today we did a great job of that. We knew that defense would have to be our spark today. With the Offensive Player of the Year in [Allison] Gionta we need to shut her down and make their other players win it for them. Our defense did a great job, not only recovering from sliding on defense but also on one v one opportunities."

The third seeded Hawks used a stifling defensive effort to avenge a loss to the second-seeded Red Foxes earlier in the season. The Hawks held Marist scoreless for a 40 minute stretch while holding MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Allison Gionta to just two goals and three points in the contest. Monmouth senior Marial Pierce (Middleburg, VA/St. John's Catholic Prep) had four points on three goals and an assist while gathering five ground balls, causing two turnovers and winning three draws.

It was a defensive battle throughout, with Monmouth taking a 2-0 lead on goals from sophomore Alexa Smith (Westhampton Beach, NY/Westhampton Beach) and Pierce. Gionta's first goal cut the lead to 2-1 with 22:51 and it would be Marist's last until the 10:51 mark of the second half. During that span Monmouth scored five unanswered goals, including three in the first half to take a 5-1 lead into halftime.

Out of the break Smith tallied her third while sophomore Caroline Corbliss (Marriottsville, MD/Marriotts Ridge) netting her first goal with 12:31 remaining. Gionta's goal cut the lead to 7-2 and the Red Foxes would close to within three after Lauren Mazza's goal with 6:33 but the Hawks forced turnovers late and were able to capitalize two more times to finish the scoring at 9-3 to send the Hawks to their first MAAC title game.

Monmouth outshot Marist 25-14 and collected 21 ground balls compared to 14 for the Red Foxes. Each team had 14 turnovers and seven draw controls, however Marist was carded three times and committed 27 fouls to 13 for the Hawks.

MU goalie Caroline Huelster (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) made five saves in net and gathered three ground balls. Sophomore Amanda Miller (Marriottsville, MD/Marriotts Ridge) had a pair of caused turnovers and two ground balls in the defensive effort. Smith and Pierce each ended with three goals while senior Michelle Gonzales (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) had a goal and two assists for the Hawks.

Marist goalie Abigail Witczak had five saves and four ground balls. The three goals allowed are the least in a playoff game for Monmouth since the team's 11-3 win over Mount St. Mary's in the 2013 NEC Championship game. Monmouth now owns a 4-2 record against the Red Foxes.

The Hawks will face top-seeded Canisius on Sunday at 12 PM. That game will air on ESPN3.