WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University (4-7, 2-0 MAAC) got four goals from junior Alexa Smith (Westhampton Beach, NY/Westhampton Beach) and five points from freshman Nicole Ceraso (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) in the Hawks 13-10 win over Marist (4-6, 0-1 MAAC) on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks never trailed and fought off a Red Fox run in the second half to remain undefeated in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
Smith scored just 39 seconds into the opening frame on a feed from Ceraso to put MU up 1-0. Senior Olivia Higson (Cheadle Hulme, England/Withington Girls School) scored almost nine minutes later and the Hawks led 2-0. Marist tied the game up 3-3 before MU launched a four goal run form 10:01 to 4:47 with four different Hawks scoring. Marist scored two of the final three goals of the half and MU took a 8-5 lead into the break.
Senior Claudia LaMarca (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) scored back to back goals to start the second half – both on Ceraso feeds, to push the MU lead to 10-5 with 25:01 to play. Carly Sane's unassisted goal with 21 minutes left put MU up 11-6 but Marist would score a trio of goals and keep the Hawks off the scoreboard for almost 10 minutes while closing to within two. Junior Kate Ryan's (Morton, PA/Springfield) goal with 10:56 broke the scoring run and started a defensive battle that kept both teams scoreless until 1:47 when Lauren Mazza scored her third goal for the Red Foxes. Sophomore goalie Riley Brager (Reisterstown, MD/Roland Park Country) made a number of key stops down the stretch, including one on a breakaway and a point blank turnaway on a free positon attempt. Smith scored her fourth goal on an empty net to give MU its first win at home this season.
NOTES AND QUOTES
Coach Eileen Ghent on the game
"I think we executed the game plan today, we worked a lot on patience with the ball, using the whole shot clock when necessary."
Coach Ghent on the play of the defense and goalie Riley Brager
"Our defense is definitely a unit, we've been trying ot get a lot of people experience so if something does happen we are prepared. Luckly our young players have really stepped up. Riley is somone who we really rely on in the cage, she's not only stopping the ball but also making good decisions in transition."
Junior Alexa Smith on the importance of the win
"It is so important because we haven't had a lot of wins at home and we've had a lot of games that we could have won but just missed. To win against Marist, who is one of the top teams in the league, was really important."
Brager on the two second half saves
Honestly I wasn't thinking that much, I just made sure I was in the right position to make the save. I knew I needed to come away with the those saves to keep us in front.
Riley Brager on the defense
"It is hard not having Amanda out there because she's a junior captain but people have set up. Emma Stukenberg and Ashley Cross have stepped up toe play a huge role and communicate and just be ready for slides and help out back there."
·     Monmouth is now 2-0 in MAAC play for the fourth consecutive year
·     The win was the first at home for Monmouth in 2017
·     MU has now won two straight against the Red Foxes and are 5-2 all-time against Marist
·     Ceraso's 23 assists this season is tied for 12th most in a single season with former All-American Heather Bryan's 2001 mark
·     Ceraso's four assists is tied for the 11th most in a single game
·     Brager made eight saves in the contest, including six in the second half
·     Smith scored on four of five total shots
NUMBERS CRUNCH
·     Monmouth held a 32-22 advantage in shots
·     Marist committed 28 fouls, compared to 15 for MU
·     Marist goalie Abigail Witczak had seven saves in the contest
·     Brager also had three ground balls and a caused turnover in the game
·     MU was 0-for-6 on free position shots while Marist was 1-for-3
·     Marist senior Olivia Pitonzo led the red foxes with five points on two goals and three assists
·     Freshman defender Megan Hart had four draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers
·     Sophomore defender Monica Cortes has a career-high six ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers
UP NEXT
Monmouth will head to Fairfield to face the Stags on Wednesday, who have won four consecutive contests. Each of the last three games between Fairfield and Monmouth have been decided by one goal (Monmouth 8-7 OT, Fairfield 8-7, Fairfield 5-4).
