WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University's freshman Josephine van der Hoop (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Wolfert van Borselem) and Elyssa Okken (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley) scored 40 seconds apart, while the defensive unit withstood 14 penalty corners as the Hawks defeated Bucknell, 2-0, Sunday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field. Monmouth, which improves to 8-2 on the season, earned its first victory over the Bison since 2004 as Bucknell slips to 4-4 on the year.
After a scoreless first half, the two teams exchanged opportunities during the first 15 minutes of the second stanza. Monmouth finally broke the ice in the 51st minute when sophomore Kelly Hanna (Ocean City, NJ/Seaville [Rutgers]) took the ball towards the end line and sent a cross that found the stick of van der Hoop, who one-touched the ball through Bucknell's goalkeeper Emily Finn's legs, which proved to be the game-winner. Following the reset, junior Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) had a defensive stop and connected with Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, PA/Berks Catholic), who sprung van der Hoop and Okken on the fast-break goal to cap off the scoring. MU's junior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) recorded her fifth shutout of the year, making eight saves while senior Casey Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City) registered a defensive save.
NOTES & QUOTES
"I am really happy that we were able to bounce back from Friday's game. I thought we held really strong on our defensive corner unit and it was great to see Elyssa and Josephine able to connect on the forward line; I think they both brought a lot of attack. But it was an overall complete team win." – Head Coach Carli Figlio
- The win was the first over the Bison in Carli Figlio's tenure and the program's first victory against the Patriot League foe since 2004.
- Monmouth finished 3-0 against the Patriot League this season, defeating Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell.
- The goal is van der Hoop's second in as many games and first career game-winner.
- Okken earned her first start of the season, the second of her career, and registered her second career marker.
- With her second assist of the season, Kelly Hanna now has four points on the year.
- Casey Hanna posted her third defensive save of the year.
- Piersanti posts her ninth career clean sheet.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Bucknell, 15-13.
- The Bison earned 14 corners on the afternoon, including six in the opening 35 minutes. Monmouth finished with six attacking corner opportunities.
- Laszlo finished with a team-high four shots, two being on target.
NEXT UP
Monmouth closes out non-conference play with a visit from Cornell on Sunday, October 2nd at 12 p.m.
-@MonmouthFH-
