WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ –The Monmouth University field hockey team fell to No. 21 Rutgers, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field.  With the loss, the Hawks had their nation-best 30-game regular season home winning streak dating back to the 2015 season snapped.

Rutgers (3-3) took a 1-0 advantage in the first quarter as Katie Larmour and Austyn Cuneo connected on a deflection off a corner in the 14th minute.  The Hawks (4-2) responded with a corner strike of their own in the second frame.  Freshman Aylin Aufenacker (Hamburg, Germany / Gymnasium Eppendorf) inserted to the top of the circle where senior Annie Deusch (Oceanport, NJ / Shore Regional) stick-stopped and set up Ireen Frenken's (Tilburg, Netherlands / Odulphus Lyceum) sweep that trickled past the Rutgers' defense to even things up in the 21st minute.   Larmour and Cueno connected again on a corner 5:51 into the second half, which proved to be the game-winner.

Aufenacker and classmate Yasmin Pratt (Wicklow, Ireland / Kilkenny College HS) both had quality chances in the second half but their attempts were spoiled by the Scarlet Knights' keeper.

Kate O'Hogan (Dublin, Ireland / Mount Anville Secondary) made two saves in the setback for the Hawks.

NOTES & QUOTES
"I thought it was our best game to date.  I think the team really took to heart what we focused on coming into today.  I think refocusing for next week having Drexel and William & Mary coming in will be a great opportunity for us to reload and progress forward."  - Carli Figlio, Head Coach

- Today's game marked the seventh time in program history the Hawks have hosted a ranked opponent, the sixth time under Carli Figlio.  It is the first meeting with a ranked opponent at home since 2015, the Hawks' last loss at home (vs. No. 5 Albany; L, 1-0).
– Monmouth has faced a Big Ten opponent in eight straight seasons and nine of the last 10.    
- The Hawks' three game winning streak is snapped.
- Monmouth is now 4-5 all-time against Rutgers.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Ireen Frenken scored her first goal of the year, her fifth career marker.
- Annie Deusch notched her first point of the year with her assist.  It is her fifth career helper.
- Aylin Aufenacker posted her ninth point of the year with her assist.  The freshman has points in four of the Hawks' six games.
- Annick van Lange had her goal streak snapped at three games.   The sophomore registered 12 points in the three game span.
- Rutgers held slight advantage in both shots, 8-7, and corner opportunities, 6-5.

NEXT UP
Monmouth returns to 'The Cat' next weekend for a pair of home games.  On Friday, September 20, the Hawks will host Drexel at 3 p.m. before welcoming in William & Mary in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament game on Sunday, September 22nd at 11 a.m. Both games will be broadcasted live on ESPN3.