BETHLEHEM, PA  – In its first road game of the season, the Monmouth University field hockey team received goals from four different players, including a pair from senior Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional), along with five saves from junior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) to run away with a 5-0 victory, Sunday afternoon at Ulrich Sports Complex.

For the second game in a row, the Hawks built a 3-0 first-half lead as Rachel Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh), Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, PA/Berks Catholic) and Mallory Kusakavitch (Pittston, PA/Holy Redeemer) each found the back of the cage. Ercolino's goals came within four minutes of each other in the second stanza, both off corner plays, to cap off the scoring for the Blue and White. The defensive unit limited Lehigh to just eight shots and two corner opportunities in the shutout victory.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It's great to go 2-0 on opening weekend. Having a lot of attack starting from our defenders, working through the midfield was great to see today. We are looking forward to working hard this week to clean up a few things before facing a very talented Lafayette team this Friday. I am very pleased with the progress so far." Head Coach Carli Figlio

-Monmouth is 9-7 all-time against Lehigh. The two sides met for the seventh consecutive season, with the Hawks winning six of the last seven meetings.
-Monmouth begins a season 2-0 for the first time since the 2009 campaign.
- Rachel Konowal registered her first career game-winning goal.
- Kelly Hanna posted her first point in a Monmouth uniform, assisting on Konowal's marker.
-Meg Donahue converted her first career penalty stroke attempt. The Hawks have successfully converted all six stroke opportunities since the 2013 season and 11 of their last 12 attempts since the 2010 campaign.
-Mallory Kusakavitch's marker in the 34th minute gave the junior her first career points.
- Starting her 60th career game, Alyssa Ercolino registered career goals number 14 and 15. It was her fourth career multi-goal game.
- Freshman Jasmin Chulie made her Monmouth debut while sophomore Stefanie Bigler saw action for the first time this season.
- Julie Laszlo recorded two assists on the afternoon.
- Sydney Southard posted her second career defensive save.
-Christen Piersanti notched her fifth career shutout.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Lehigh, 20-8, including 11-5 in the second half.
- The Hawks earned 10 penalty corner opportunities, compared to just two for the Mountain Hawks.
- Meg Donahue registered a team-high six shots to lead the team in attempts for the second-straight game.

NEXT UP
Monmouth returns home for a pair of games on So Sweet A Cat Field next weekend. The Hawks welcome Lafayette on Friday, September 2nd (4 p.m.) before taking on Georgetown on Sunday, September 4th (12 p.m.).

-@MonmouthFH-