FAIRFIELD, CT- Monmouth University's Women's Lacrosse team (3-0) dominated in every aspect of the game against Sacred Heart, cruising past the Pioneers (0-2) 17-2 on a frigid Wednesday afternoon in Fairfield.
 
For just the fourth time in school history the Hawks are out to a 3-0 start as Monmouth used a 12-goal unanswered run to take control of the game. Monmouth went up 3-0 on a Nicole Ceraso (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) goal at the 21:18 mark before Sacred Heart's Hanna Wise score the Pioneer's first goal three minutes later. It was be their last goal for 31 game minutes as the MU defense clamped down allowing just seven shots on goal all contest.
 
Sacred Heart switched goaltenders at halftime and the Hawks had a hard time getting one past the junior Amy Cadle until Rachel Mills (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic/Towson) scored her second of the game with 22 minutes left in regulation. Mills' goal seemed to spark the Hawks' offense which scored four more unanswered over a 10-minute span. Monmouth senior Stephanie Dellituri (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional) started the second half in net, making four saves while allowing just one goal.
 
Ceraso led the Hawks with six points on two goals and four assists but sophomore Caroline Bleck (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) tallied a career-high four goals in the contest. Michelle Armstrong (Ellicott City, MD/Reservior) tallied her first career hat trick while Jenny Staines (Silver Spring, MD/Good Counsel) finished with four points on two goals and two helpers. Rachel Mills led all Monmouth players with five ground balls
 
Notes & Quotes
"I was really happy with the effort from top to bottom today. We dominated draw controls which allowed us to have control of the majority of possessions and then were able to capitalize on those possessions with some great offensive efforts. Defensively, we were focused and composed and kept sending the ball back to the offense. It was a great team win and sets us up as we head into two big road games." Monmouth Head Coach Jordan Trautman

• Monmouth is now 16-14 all-time against Sacred Heart. It was the first time since the Hawks left the NEC that the two teams have met. Monmouth is now 6-7 all-time at Campus Field
• The Hawks are 3-0 for just the fourth time in school history and the first time since 2015. The Monmouth record for consecutive wins to start the season is four, done in 2000.
• The 17 goals is the second most a Monmouth team has scored under Trautman's direction and the two goals is the fewest given up in her tenure.
• The two goals is the least allowed since a 2015 home win against Drexel (5-2).
• It is the 13^th time that Monmouth has allowed two or less goals in a contest.
• Ceraso is now all alone in fourth place with 77 career assists, eight behind Katie Degen for third place.

 Numbers Crunch

• Monmouth dominated the shots 42-12
• The Hawks committed just nine turnovers in the contest
• MU went 5-of-10 on free position attempts, their best percentage of the season
• Sacred Heart's goalies combined for 15 saves
• Monmouth held a 12-7 lead in draw controls, including 6-1 in the second half
• Junior Megan Hart dominated with seven draws in the contest

Up Next
Monmouth continues its four-game road swing up at Army West Point on Saturday. Opening draw for that contest is slated for 3 PM.