WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth University field hockey team used four first half goals from four different players to run past visiting Kent State, 5-1, Sunday afternoon in the home opener on So Sweet A Cat Field.  Senior Rachel Konowal and junior Georgia Garden Bachop led the way for the Hawks (2-0), each recording four points on the afternoon.

The Hawks' win also marked the 100th career victory for head coach Carli Figlio.

Monmouth opened the scoring in the third minute when Josephine van der Hoop hammered in a rebound off a corner before Mallory Kusakavitch found the back of the cage for the second time this season in the 16th minute.  Garden Bachop connected on her first of the afternoon in the 14th minute on a shot from the left side, while Konowal pushed in a rebound in the 30th minute for her first of the year.  Garden Bachop capped off the scoring in the 58th minute, finishing off a feed from Konowal inside the circle.

Christen Piersanti, making her first start of the season in cage, made five saves en route to her 38th career victory.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Starting 2-0 is extremely important for our confidence, especially against two very talented teams.  Our attack is starting to click and we need to tighten up some defensive things, but overall it was a great weekend." – Head Coach Carli Figlio

"My heart is a Golden Flash, for sure, but being here at Monmouth I have tried to infuse all the work ethic I have learned during my time as a student-athlete at Kent State, so I am hoping I am making everyone proud, but it is always nice to beat the team that you are built from. Everything I am is because of where I came from and I have so much respect for the Kent State program and all those players who have come through.  Having them here today and getting my 100th career victory was extremely special for me."  Figlio on earning 100th career victory against her alma mater. 

- The Hawks have won 13 straight regular season games on their home turf dating back to the 2015 season. 
- MUFH is now 2-1 against Figlio's alma mater, earning the victories in the last two meetings.
- Garden Bachop recorded her first career multi-goal game.
- van der Hoop's goal was her first of the season, eighth of her career.
- Konowal notched her first goal of the year while adding a pair of assists.  Her four points is a career-best. 
- Kusakavitch's second of the season is the fifth marker of her career.
- Tamar Klinkhamer earned her first collegiate start on the backline.
- Meg Donahue assisted on Kusakavtich's goal to earn a point.
- It was Piersanti's 58th career start in cage. 
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Kent State, 17-8, including 15-5 in the opening half.
- The Golden Flash earned six corners, three in each half, to finish with one more opportunity than the Hawks.
- Julie Laszlo led the Hawks with six shots, three of which being on target.

NEXT UP
Monmouth hits the road for Labor Day weekend, taking on William and Mary on September 1st (7 p.m.), before visiting nationally ranked Virginia on September 3rd (1 p.m.).