WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – For the first time in its 20-year history, the Monmouth University field hockey team has started a season 4-0 with its 2-0 win over Georgetown, Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field. Defenders Julie Laszlo (Rotterdam, Netherlands/Rotterdams Montessori Lyceum) and Casey Hanna (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City) each found the back of the cage, as junior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) made two saves for her third-straight shutout.
Monmouth controlled the first half, peppering 15 shots towards the Georgetown (2-2) defense, while earning 10 penalty corners in the opening 35 minutes. Laszlo put the Hawks on the board 4:08 into the game on her straight shot off a corner. The junior assisted on Hanna's maker in the 60th minute, taking a strong shot towards the far post that was redirected past Hoya's goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki.
NOTES & QUOTES
“It's great to start the season 4-0. I think our defense is playing some really fantastic field hockey. They are not just defending but they are creating 90-percent of our attack and obviously scoring goals for us. We are going into next weekend [at Kent St.; vs. Iowa] against two really tough opponents so we have to focus on finishing the play in order to finish the game.” – Head Coach Carli Figlio
Figlio on returning to her alma mater:
“It's going to be exciting to be back [to Kent State]; I haven't been there in years. To be able to play there and hopefully come out with two wins would mean the world to me.”
- Monmouth improves to 4-1 all-time against the Hoyas.
- Julie Laszlo recorded a career-high 12 shots, six of which landing on target.
- Alyssa Ercolino (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) had her goal streak snapped at three games, but extended her point streak to four with a first-half assist.
- Meg Donahue (Wyomissing, NJ/Berks Catholic) registered her first assist of the year, sticking stopping for Laszlo's game-winning marker.
-Christen Piersanti now has seven career shutout victories and ran her scoreless streak to 214 minutes.
- Monmouth last posted three-straight shutouts in 2010 when Melissa Katz blanked Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac and Siena.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The Hawks outshot the Hoyas, 25-5. It's the second time in three games Monmouth has recorded 20 shots.
-The Blue and White earned 17 corner opportunities compared to just six for Georgetown. The Hoyas did not have an offensive opportunity until three corner chances in the final minute of the opening half.
- Casey Hanna recorded five shots for the game, three landing on goal.
- Piersanti made two saves in her 24th career victory, while Skonecki turned away nine shot and got help from three defensive saves by Devin Holmes.
-Laszlo recorded a defensive save for the second-straight game.
NEXT UP
Monmouth hits the road for a pair of game in Kent, Ohio next weekend. The Blue and White take on Kent State on Friday, September 9th (12 p.m.) and Iowa on September 10th (12 p.m.).
