WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Monmouth University women's soccer team opens play in the 2018 MAAC Tournament on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. when it hosts No. 4 Niagara at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn.

Niagara advanced to the semifinal round following its 2-1 victory over Rider on Sunday afternoon. By virtue of its MAAC-record sixth-consecutive Regular Season Championship, Monmouth earned the top seed in the postseason and an automatic berth in Thursday's semifinal round. The Hawks will host the semifinal and, should they advance, Sunday's championship match at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn at 5 p.m.

Click here for the full MAAC Tournament bracket with game times, locations and broadcast information.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday - 5 p.m. - #1 Monmouth (14-3-1) vs. #4 Niagara (10-6-2) – Live Stats | ESPN3
Thursday - 7 p.m. - #3 Siena (10-7-3) at #2 Marist (9-7-2)
Sunday - 5 p.m. – Championship Match

TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets for all MAAC Championships at maac.ticketleap.com. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students, children and senior citizens. Monmouth University students with a valid student ID will be admitted free.

PARKING
Fans attending the 2018 MAAC Women's Soccer Tournament are directed to park in Monmouth University's main parking lots numbered #13, #14 and #15. Entrance to the parking lot is off of Larchwood Avenue and is free of charge.

Monmouth University Campus Map

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday's MAAC Women's Soccer Semifinal will be broadcast on ESPN3 and will be streaming live on the ESPN App. Matt Harmon (Play-by-Play), Eddy Occhipinti (Analyst) and Suzi Mellano (sideline) will have the call for Thursday's game. If Monmouth advances to Sunday's Championship match, that game will also be shown on ESPN3.

TOURNAMENT NOTES
Monmouth completed its MAAC regular season schedule with a 9-1-0 record to capture the top seed and its sixth consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship. Monmouth has won nine MAAC games in five straight seasons and became the first MAAC women's soccer team to win six straight regular season crowns.

Monmouth enters the postseason on a nine-game winning streak, the program's longest winning streak under head coach Krissy Turner and the longest winning streak since 1996 when it won 10 consecutive matches. The Hawks have outscored their opponents 31-2 during the nine-match winning streak and have used the same starting lineup for the entirety of the nine-game winning streak. The nine-game streak is also tied for the third-longest in the NCAA behind Saint Louis (12) and North Carolina (11).

During the regular season, Monmouth defeated Niagara 2-0 at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn on Oct. 17. Dana Scheriff and Jill Conklin each scored for the Hawks in the win, while Amanda Knaub made one save in goal for the Hawks. Monmouth leads the all-time series against Niagara 13-1-0, including 13 consecutive victories. Last season, Monmouth and Niagara met in the MAAC Quarterfinal, a 1-0 victory for the Hawks in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

The Hawks have five players with double-digit points in 2018. Senior midfielder Alli DeLuca leads the team with 21 points on the strength of eight goals and five assists. Redshirt junior Madie Gibson has six goals and six assists, while Lexie Palladino and Dana Scheriff also have six goals apiece. Rookie Jill Conklin had three goals and five assists from her midfield position.

Defensively, Monmouth has allowed 7 goals in 18 matches and has a 0.379 goals-against average. The Hawks lead the MAAC and rank fourth in the nation in that category. Goalkeeper Amanda Knaub is 11^th in the NCAA in shutouts with nine on the year, her goals-against average also ranks fourth in the NCAA at 0.345, and she is eighth in the country in save percentage .900.

Madie Gibson ranks 12th in Monmouth history with 74 career points. She has 25 goals and 24 assists and has started all 60 games during her career. Gibson needs six points to move into Monmouth's all-time top 10 in points.

Monmouth's six-year MAAC record is 53-4-3 and Monmouth enters Thursday's game with a 7-1-1 home record this season. Monmouth has reached 14 wins in three consecutive seasons. Monmouth has won 35 straight games when scoring the first goal of the game.

MONMOUTH IN THE MAAC TOURNAMENT
Monmouth is 8-2 all-time in the MAAC Tournament, including a 2-2 record at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn. The Hawks won conference titles in 2013, 2016 and 2017 to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Monmouth is looking to become the first MAAC team to win three straight MAAC Championships since Loyola Maryland won five straight from 2000-04.

Madie Gibson has five goals and two assists in her MAAC Tournament career, Alli DeLuca has two goals and four assists, Lexie Palladino has two goals, Jazlyn Moya has one goal and one assist, Jessica Johnson has one goal and Anna Lazur and Dana Scheriff each have one assist. Goalkeeper Amanda Knaub is 5-0-0 with one shutout and has allowed five goals in five postseason games.