RIVERDALE, NY- Monmouth University's Women's Lacrosse team (6-9, 4-2 MAAC) scored a season-high 18 goals to upend Manhattan (5-10, 2-4 MAAC) and clinch a spot on the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Hawks jumped all over Manhattan in the first half, at one point using six unanswered goals to build an 11-5 halftime lead. The defense, which caused 11 turnovers in the match, clamped down in the second half allowing just two Jasper goals as the Hawks cruised to its fourth league win of the season.
 
Sophomore Nicole Ceraso (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) led the Hawks with seven points, including a career-high five assists in the contest. Alexa Smith (Westhampton Beach, NY/Westhampton Beach) led all goal scorers with four goals while Jenny Staines (Silver Spring, MD/Good Counsel) had six points with a trio of goals and assists. Defensively, sophomore Megan Hart (Clarksville, MD/Athloton) had three caused turnovers, three ground balls and four draw controls. The Hawks allowed just eight shots in the second half, with goaltender Riley Brager (Reiserstown, MD/Roland Park) making nine saves in the contest.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
 
Monmouth Head Coach Jordan Trautman on the win
"I'm really glad we rebounded with a game like this after Niagara. We needed this game to pick up the momemtum that we had before Saturday's game. Our focus right now is consistency and so we had to get back on track with that and obviously today was a great start to getting back on track.
 
Trautman on the play of the defense
The defense has been playing really well as a unit, so they did what they have been doing. They were able to showcase it because the offense crushed it.
 
Trautman on having nine different scorers
"It's a testament to the chemistry on both ends of the field. They are starting to get where each other are and that opens up other opportunities. It's the type of chemistry that comes with playing games in this part of the season."
 
LaMarca on the offensive production
"We were finding cuts and finding drives, trying to work for the best option, not the quickest option.
 
On the Captains' message to the team before today's game
"We needed to boost the morale after Saturday's game. It is important not to get down with losses like that, we've shown how good we are and can play this season. It's important to take every day as it is and keep getting better and keep moving forward."
 

• Defenders Mackenzie Rendich (4 DC, 2 CT) and Monica Cortes helped keep the Manhattan attack at bay
• Freshman Michelle Armstrong had five draw controls and scored her first collegiate goal
• Seniors Caroline Corbliss and Claudia LaMarca each had three points on two goals and an assist
• Ceraso now has 29 assists this season, one shy of last season, which is seventh most in a single season. Her 59 career assists puts her in ninth place all-time, one behind Ali Pollock for eighth.
• Her five assist effort is tied for the third most in school history
• Smith now leads the team with 36 goals this season, giving her 115 career goals which moves her into 10^th all-time past former Hawk Rachel Tringalli (1997-2000).

NUMBERS CRUNCH

• Monmouth outshot Manhattan 30-19
• The Hawks dominated ground balls, 25-12
• MU as perfect on clears going 18-for-18
• The Hawks recorded 12 turnovers, six in each half
• Molly Fitzpatrick and Kara Hodapp led the Jaspers with two goals apiece

UP NEXT
Monmouth will face Siena on Saturday in the final regular season road goal of the year.