WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Junior Georgia Garden Bachop scored with 53 seconds left in the first overtime to give the 25th-ranked Monmouth University field hockey team a 2-1 victory over visiting Indiana, Sunday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field.
Senior Julie Laszlo recorded a block-tackle inside the defensive 25-yard line and sent an outlet pass 20 yards to Garden Bachop near mid-field. The third-year Hawk took a few steps to the left to work around the defender to create a one-on-one with Indiana's goalkeeper Katie Johnson. Garden Bachop dribbled left, brought it back to her strong side and sent a shot under a diving Johnson for the winner.
Indiana (5-5) took advantage of its first opportunity of the day in the 18th minute as Claire Woods hammered in a rebound off a corner to give the Hooisers a 1-0 lead. Following the break, senior Meg Donahue dribbled into the circle and drew a penalty stroke opportunity, which was successfully converted by classmate Rachel Konowal to even the score 31 seconds into the half.
Senior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti made two saves on the afternoon for her sixth win of the year.
With the victory, the Hawks' fifth-straight, MU improves to 7-2 on the season.
NOTES & QUOTES
"I think today was the best game that we have played all year. I thought we held possession really well and held off a very aggressive Indiana team. For the most part, we just weren't finishing in the attacking end. We focused a lot on grit and hustle today and I think we had some really pretty hockey as well, but this is the team I have been wanting to see for the last couple weeks and this is a great way to head into conference play next weekend." – Head Coach Carli Figlio
- The Hawks have won 17 straight regular season games on their home turf dating back to the 2015 season.
- Today's game marked the fourth time the Hawks have hosted a Big Ten team (Penn State – 2012, Rutgers, Michigan State – 2014).
- It was the first meeting between the Hawks and Hoosiers.
- Monmouth picked up its second win over a Big Ten opponent (2-6).
- It is the first overtime game of the year for MU. The Hawks have won its last three overtime affairs.
- Georgia Garden Bachop's goal, her fifth of the year, is her second career game-winner.
- Rachel Konowal now has four goals on the year, a career-best in a single season, and is now 2-for-2 on penalty strokes.
- Julie Laszlo assisted on the game-winner and has recorded a point in the last six games, accumulating 16 points over that span.
- Josephine van der Hoop had her point streak halted at five games.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth outshot Indiana 23-9, including 7-3 in the extra session.
- The Hawks earned 11 attacking corners, four more than the Hooisers.
- Meg Donahue finished with a team-high seven shots, four of which reaching cage, while Laszlo and Garden Bachop had six and four attempts, respectively.
NEXT UP
Monmouth, the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions, opens up league play on Friday, September 29th when it hosts Sacred Heart. The game, slated for 4 p.m., will be broadcasted live on ESPN3.
-@MonmouthFH-
