CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – Josephine van der Hoop scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 46th minute, while freshman Aylin Aufenacker scored twice to lead the Monmouth field hockey team to a 5-3 road win at Villanova, Sunday afternoon.  The Hawks improve to 3-1 on the year with their sixth straight win over the Wildcats (1-1).

Monmouth started strong in the opening quarter, outshooting the Wildcats 6-1 in the frame.  Aufenacker posted her first of the afternoon in the eighth minute, hammering in a shot while falling to the ground.  Annick van Lange put MU ahead by two in the 11th minute, but the Wildcats stormed back in the second quarter to even things up seconds before the break.

Aufenacker took a quick restart off the sideline and weaved her way to the circle where she sent a strike the short side to put Monmouth back up by one five minutes into the second half, but Villanova answered six minutes later with a goal via a corner.  A loose ball caromed out to van der Hoop at the top of the circle where the senior sent in the game-winner early in the fourth quarter and Meg de Lange converted a penalty stroke for an insurance goal in the 48th minute to cap off the scoring for the Blue and White.

Kate O'Hogan made two save for the victory in cage.

NOTES & QUOTES
"The first quarter was some of the best hockey we played all season.  We need to become more consistent on the field as we work towards putting a full game together.  I was happy with our relentlessness and ability to fight back when things weren't going our way." - Carli Figlio, Head Coach

- Monmouth runs its winning streak to six games over the Wildcats, improving to 6-9 all time in a series that began in 1998.
- The Hawks scored a goal in the first quarter for the first time this season.
- MU has at least 10 shots on target in each of its four games this season.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-              Aylin Aufenacker registered her first multi-goal game of her career.  The freshman, who has three goals this year, has at least one point in three of the four games this season.
-              Josephine van der Hoop registered her third goal of the season.  Her fourth career game-winner gives her 26 goals for her career, which moved her into sole possession for eighth all-time in program history.
-              Annick van Lange connected on her third of the year.  All three markers have come in the last two games.
-              Meg de Lange posted her second goal of the year, both coming via a penalty stroke.
-              van der Hoop finished with a game-high five shots, while Aufenacker had three attempts.
-              Monmouth outshot Villanova 16-11 for the game.
-              Stefanie Bigler had her point streak snapped at three games.
-              The Hawks held a slight edge in corner opportunities, 5-4.

NEXT UP
The Hawks return home for four straight games beginning with Penn on Friday, September 13th (3 p.m.) and Rutgers on Sunday, September 15th (2 p.m.).  The game against the Scarlet Knights will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.