KENT, OH – Despite nine first-half saves from junior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) the Monmouth University field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 4-0 affair with 19th-ranked Iowa, Saturday afternoon at Murphy-Mellis Field on Kent State's campus.
The Hawkeyes took a 2-0 lead into the break and added a pair of second half goals a minute apart to run away with the victory. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 5-1 on the year, while the Hawkeyes improve to 4-1.
NOTES & QUOTES
"Iowa is a great team with tremendous speed and skill. We are looking to grow from this game and evaluate what we want to become moving forward." – Head Coach Carli Figlio
- It was Monmouth's first meeting with Iowa.
- The Hawks have faced a ranked opponent in each of Carli Figlio's 10 years.
- The Blue and White have squared off against a Big Ten opponent in each of the last five seasons. The Hawks are 1-5 in those games (Defeated Rutgers 4-3 in 2014).
- Monmouth let up a goal in the first half for the first time all year.
- Iowa is the first team that has held a led on the Hawks all season.
- Piersanti's nine saves is a season high.
- Freshman Alison Westwood (Glasgow, Scotland/Kelvindale Academy) made her collegiate debut, starting the second half in cage. The rookie made two saves in the final 35 minutes.
- Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) and Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) each had their point streaks halted at five games.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- The Hawks were outshot for the game, 24-5.
- 15 of Iowa's 24 shots were directed towards cage.
- Monmouth earned two attacking corner opportunities in each half, and limited Iowa to just three chances in the second stanza. The Hawkeys had 10 total corners for the game.
- Laszlo attempted a team-high two shots, while Georgia Garden Bachop (Dunedin, New Zealand/Queen Margaret), Kelly Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City [Rutgers], and Rachel Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) each recorded a shot on the afternoon. Hanna's attempt was on the lone attempt on target.
NEXT UP
Monmouth returns to So Sweet A Cat Field on Friday, September 16th for a matchup with St. Joseph's at 3 p.m., which will be broadcasted on ESPN3, before a tilt with Temple on Sunday, September 18th at 1:00 p.m. in Philadelphia.
-@MonmouthFH-
