WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Powered by four goals in the opening 24 minutes, the Monmouth University field hockey team started Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a dominate 4-0 victory over visiting Sacred Heart, Friday afternoon on So Sweet A Cat Field.  The Hawks, who earned their sixth-straight win to improve to 8-2 on the year, outshot the Pioneers 33-2 in the game, including 19-0 in the second half.

Four different Hawks registered goals for the Blue and White, starting with freshman Tamar Klinkhamer.  The reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week capitalized off a corner three minutes into the game to give MU a lead it would never relinquish.  Georgia Garden Bachop deflected in a corner shot in the 14th minute before Kelly Hanna spun around and deposited a shot high into the netting in the 19th minute.  Josephine van der Hoop capped off a two-on-one in the 24th minute to complete Monmouth's scoring.

Julie Laszlo finished with three points on the afternoon, assisting on the Hawks' first three goals. 

Senior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti was not forced to make a save in her seventh win of the year.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It's very important to get off to a good start in conference and it was nice to be at home to start league play.  I think we held possession really well and being able to finish the way we did in the first half proved to be the deciding factor." – Head Coach Carli Figlio

- The Hawks have won 18 straight regular season games on their home turf dating back to the 2015 season. 
- The Hawks are now 12-8 all-time in conference openers, including 8-3 under Figlio.
- Monmouth has won 10 straight against the Pioneers.
- Klinkhamer's goal, which proved to be the game-winner, is the first of her career.
- Garden Bachop, who has goals in two straight games, now has six markers on the year.
- Hanna recorded her seventh goal of the year and has three goals over the last three games.
- Laszlo increased her point streak to seven games.  The three assists ties a program best in a single game, tying teammate Meg Donahue (2016 vs. Siena) and Trish O'Dwyer (2014 vs. Rider).
- Rachel Konowal added an assist on the Hawks' final goal of the afternoon.
- Piersanti notched her 16th shutout in her 44th career win. 

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- The Hawks earned eight attacking corners compared to just one for the Pioneers.
- Sacred Heart goalkeeper Hailey Power recorded 18 saves.
- Garden Bachop finished with a team-high six shots, all on cage. 
 
NEXT UP
Monmouth returns to action next Friday, October 6th when it travels to Fairfield for a 4 p.m. tilt with the Stags.