WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Senior Mallory Kusakavitch and junior Kelly Hanna each scored twice to power the 25th-ranked Monmouth University field hockey team to a 4-1 victory over visiting Drexel, Friday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field.  

After nearly 30 minutes of scoreless hockey, Monmouth (6-2) finally broke through with the game's first goal.  Georgia Garden Bachop inserted a penalty corner to the top of the circle where Julie Laszlo unloaded a big shot that was tipped in front by Kusakavitch to give the Blue and White a 1-0 lead 5:18 before the break.  Just under four minutes into the second half, Hanna tipped in a shot in similar fashion to put MU ahead by two before the Dragons cut into the lead in the 49th minute.  Five minutes later, Elyssa Okken feed Kusakavitch who capped off a fast break with a reverse shot to put the Hawks up again by two.  Hanna finished the scoring with a back hand of her own in the 67th minute.  

Senior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti made one save in cage for the Blue and White in the victory.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was a really great week of practice; the most competitive and intense we have had all season.  Going into this year's game [with Drexel] we knew how important it was considering last year's result [a 5-2 defeat].  We had a deeper bench today, which was huge as the game went on.  Overall, I think we are taking a step in the right direction and heading into Sunday's game with Indiana, a Big Ten team, I think we are right where we need to be." – Head Coach Carli Figlio

- The Hawks have won 16 straight regular season games on their home turf dating back to the 2015 season. 
- MU earned its first victory over the Dragons in program history (1-4).
- With the victory, the Hawks have won four straight games. 
- Kusakavitch recorded her first career multi-goal game.  She now has four goals on the season.
- Hanna registered her second multi-goal game of 2017, the third of her career, as she increased her goal total to six.
- Josephine van der Hoop had her goal streak snapped at four games, but increased her point streak to five games with an assist.  
- Julie Laszlo assisted on two goals against the Dragons and has a point in the last five games, accumulating 15 points over that span.  The senior has 10 assists this year, her second-straight season with at least 10 helpers.  
– Rachel Konowal's point streak was halted at seven games. 
- Elyssa Okken earned her first start of the season.
- Ireen Frenken made her collegiate debut.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Drexel 24-5, including 11-1 in the opening half.
- The Hawks finished with four attacking corners, two more than Drexel.
- Kusakavitch finished with a team-high four shots, all on target, while Meg Donahue, and Georgia Garden Bachop both had three attempts. 

NEXT UP
The Hawks remain home this weekend and host Indiana on Sunday, September 24th, at noon.  The game is set to be broadcasted live on ESPN3.