WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University's women's lacrosse team moved to 1-0 on the season with an 11-5 win over Sacred Heart at home on Saturday.
 
Senior captain Nicole Ceraso (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge) had seven points on three goals and four assists while three other Hawks scored two goals apiece and the defense allowed just 13 shots on goal. Rachel Mills (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic/Towson)
 had four caused turnovers to go with a pair of goals while Stephanie Delliturri (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central) made four saves while backstopping the Hawks to a win.
 
Monmouth shot out to an 6-1 lead with 13:11 left in the first half on Mills' first goal of the game. The Hawks took a 7-2 advantage into halftime and then piled on three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second frame to pull ahead 10-3. Sacred Heart scored back to back goals from senior Cassie Cesario to pull to 10-5 but senior Sarah Gillogly (Edgewater, MD/South River) tallied her second of the day with 44 seconds left to end the scoring.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"Obviously, it is exciting to start the season with a win. We did some good stuff on both ends of the field but we need to clean up some things for our next game on Wednesday. I'm happy to get the ball rolling with a win."

Trautman on the play of senior goalie Stephanie Dellituri
"Steph [Dellituri] was awesome today. I thought she stepped up like a fifth-year and she made some big stops for us. She cleared the ball well, she did her job and then I think she did some extra things to make her game extra special today."
 
Trautman on the play of the seniors
"I think they did a solid job, they are probably underwhelmed with their performance today. They have pretty high standards for themselves. Their stats were pretty solid today but in general I think they have higher expectations for themselves moving forward."
 

• Delliturri made her first start in net for the Hawks and got her first win
• Ceraso, already the programs all-time leader in career assists added four more
• Monmouth has allowed a total of seven goals in the last two games against Sacred Heart
• The Hawks lead the all-time series
• Monmouth won its opening game for the second time in three seasons under Trautman
• Sophomore Gina Verrone made her first start on defense for the Hawks, finishing with six ground balls in the win
• Freshmen Brianna Falco, Maddie Murphy and Marissa Lagera all played in their first career game with Falco and Murphy earning their first career starts

 
NUMBERS CRUNCH

• Monmouth outshot Sacred Heart 40-17 in the contest including 22-7 in the first half
• The Hawks had 30 ground balls compared to 13 for the Pioneers
• SHU was 0-for-5 on free positions while Monmouth went 3-for-9
• Monmouth now leads the all-time series 17-13
• SHU freshman goalie Bella Beaton was credited with 17 saves in net

 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will host another Northeast Conference school in Long Island University on Wednesday. Opening Draw is set for 2 PM