LEWISBURG, PA – Three different players scored, highlighted by a Kelly Hanna hat trick, to pace the Monmouth University field hockey team to a 6-2 opening day victory at Bucknell, Friday afternoon. The Blue and White fell behind 1-0 in the 11th minute, but scored four goals over a 24-minute span to run away with the win in the opener for both teams.

Senior Meg Donahue got the offense started with her shot from close range to even the score at 1-1 in the 18th minute. Hanna and Donahue scored 19 second apart to give MU a 3-1 lead heading into the break, while Hanna's diving tip off a penalty corner in the 42nd minute put the Blue and White up three before Bucknell stopped the Hawks' run. Hanna completed her first career hat trick in the 63rd minute, while Mallory Kusakavitch capped off the Hawks' scoring five minutes later.

Making her first career start in cage, freshman Gabi Millan turned away five shots to earn the victory.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It is always great to get the first win of the year and it was a tremendous team victory. We had some really strong play inside the circle and finished on our chances. We are really excited to get back on 'The Cat' on Sunday against Kent State." – Head Coach Carli Figlio

- Monmouth is now 5-6 under Figlio in season openers.
- The Hawks opened up on the road for the fifth time under Figlio, earning their first win.
- Monmouth's six goals is the highest opening day goal production since 1997, the first year of Division I competition, when it scored eight times.
- Gabi Millian became the first freshman Hawk to start in cage on opening day since Melissa Katz earned the job against La Salle in 2007.
- Hanna's second career multi-goal game is the first hat trick for the Hawks since 2015.
- Donahue, the Hawks' active points leaders, registered her 24th and 25th career goals. It was her fifth career multi-goal game.
- MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Julie Laszlo assisted on all three of Hanna's goals.
- Mallory Kusakavitch recorded her fourth career goal.
- Rachel Konowal, Josephine van der Hoop and Gab Girardi each recorded an assist.
- Freshman Meg de Lange made her collegiate debut for the Hawks, coming off the bench.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Bucknell, 11-9.
- The Bison earned seven penalty corners, one more than the Hawks.
- Hanna and van der Hoop both registered three shots each, all on target.

NEXT UP
Monmouth will welcome Carli Figlio's alma mater Kent State to So Sweet A Cat Field on Sunday, August 27th. The game is slated for noon.