WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Three different Hawks scored as the Monmouth University field hockey team built a three-goal lead and cruised to a 3-1 victory over visiting Virginia Commonwealth, Friday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.
Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) recorded three points on a goal and assist to lead the offensive attack. Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, NJ/Oceanport) registered the season's first goal 1:42 into the game, while freshman Josephine van der Hoop (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Wolfert van Borselem) tapped in a loose rebound 1:07 before the intermission.
NOTES & QUOTES
"It's great to get our first win on opening day. I think our first half we played really aggressive and I would love to see consistency throughout the 70-minutes of the game. I think we have fantastic players; we are fit and ready. We just need to be able to put two halves together and we will progress nicely." – Head Coach Carli Figlio
- Today marked the beginning of the 20th Division I year of Monmouth Field Hockey.
-Four newcomers made their Monmouth debut in the victory. Sophomore-transfer Kelly Hanna and freshmen Josephine van der Hoop and Annie Deusch each earned starts in their first game in the Blue and White, while Michelle Taylor saw time off the bench.
- Alyssa Ercolino, who has started all 59 games of her career, registered her 13th career goal.
- Today was Julie Laszlo's first game back in the lineup since September 13, 2015. It's her second career three-point game.
- For three straight seasons, the Hawks received a goal from a true freshman in their collegiate debut (Maartje Wicherink, Elyssa Okken, Josephine van der Hoop).
-Monmouth captures its first victory over VCU all-time (1-4, series inception in 2006).
-The Hawks are now 6-4 under Carli Figlio in home openers.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot VCU 17-8, including 10-1 in the first half.
- The Hawks held a slight edge in penalty corners, 6-5.
- Junior Meg Donahue registered a team-high four shots.
- Junior Christen Piersanti made one save in her 21st career victory, while her counterpart, Chessa Kownurko, turned away seven shots and got help from a McKenzie Bowler defensive save.
NEXT UP
The Hawks hit the road for the first time in 2016 on Sunday, August 28th when they travel to Bethlehem, PA for a noon tilt with Lehigh.
