PHILADELPHIA, PA – Junior Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, PA/Berks Catholic) registered a career-high five points on two goals, including the game-winner on a penalty stroke in the 60th minute, while adding an assist to help lead the Monmouth University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Temple, Sunday afternoon at Howarth Field. The Hawks, who earn their first win over the Owls since 2011, improve to 7-1, while Temple, which received votes in the NFHCA Preseason Top-20 Poll, slips to 1-7 on the year.
After a scoreless 35-minutes, Monmouth broke the ice 2:12 into the second half when Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) found the back of the cage off a corner. Temple answered just over a minute later on a goal by Rachael Mueller, but Donahue's strike from eight yards out put MU back ahead by one. Temple responded again, scoring off a corner in the 47th minute before freshman Josephine van der Hoop's (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Wolfert van Borselem) shot in the 60th minute struck a defenders foot leading to Donahue's third successful penalty stroke conversion of the season.
NOTES & QUOTES
“I am really proud of how our team played today, especially against a very talented and hard-working Temple team. They were tested in many ways and did a brilliant job of coming together and working towards a common goal, no matter the circumstance.” – Head Coach Carli Figlio
- It was Monmouth first victory over Temple since 2011. The Hawks are now 3-4 all-time against the Owls.
- Meg Donahue has registered three four-point outings in her career before her five-point outburst against the Owls.
- Donahue is now 3-for-3 in penalty strokes this season.
- With her five points, Donahue becomes the eighth player all-time to eclipse the 50 career points plateau (51 points; 19 goals, 13 assists). She joins Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) as the two Hawks to accomplish the feat this season.
- With her assist, Ercolino has posted at least a point in seven of the Hawks' eight games. She leads the team with 17 points (7 g, 3 a).
- Laszlo's fourth goal of the year has given her a point in six of the Hawks' eight games.
- It's the third game this season the Hawks have attempted 20 or more shots.
- Monmouth, which entered the week tied for first in the country in defensive saves, added to its total with three saves this afternoon with two coming from Laszlo and another from Sydney Southard (Lorton, VA/South County).
- Laszlo now has five defensive saves, while Southard is second on the squad with three.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Temple, 24-12, including 14-6 in the second half.
- Temple held a slight, 11-10, advantage in penalty corner opportunities.
- Donahue and Laszlo combined for 15 of the Hawks 24 shots.
- Junior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) made five saves for her 27th career victory. Temple's Maddie Lilliock made eight saves in defeat.
NEXT UP
Monmouth returns to Philadelphia next Friday, September 23rd for a meeting with Drexel at 6 p.m. before hosting Bucknell on So Sweet A Cat Field on Sunday, September 25th, at 1 p.m.
-@MonmouthFH-
