WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ-  Monmouth University junior Caroline Bleck (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) scored a career-high seven goals as the Hawks (2-0) cruised past Long Island University (1-2) by a 20-13 score on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Hawks, which had the highest scoring offense in the conference last season, scored 20 for the first time under the direction of third-year Head Coach Jordan Trautman. In addition to Bleck's seven, Monmouth also received hat tricks from seniors Rachel Mills (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) and Nicole Ceraso (Massapequa, NY./Plainedge). Ceraso finished with seven points for the second consecutive game, assisting on four other goals.
 
Senior Allison Turturro (Sound Beach, NY/Millar Place) who recorded her 100^th point against Sacred Heart, finished with four goals on the afternoon to bring her career total up to 99.
 
Monmouth used a 6-0 run in the middle of the first half to take a 7-4 lead before Long Island tallied back to back markers to get to within one. The Hawks reopened the lead to 10-6 but LIU added two straight late in the half before Mills scored on a diving shot to give MU an 11-8 lead into the half.  Monmouth's defense clamped down in the second half with the Sharks getting no closer than four goals in the final 17 minutes of play.
 
The Hawks dominated the draw circle, 25-10, with Megan Hart (Clarksville, MD/Atholton) recording 11 and sophomore Gina Verrone (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) with seven.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"I was excited that we built some momentum as we start up our season. I felt like today was a building block on last game so I am definitely happy with the direction that we took in the game. I thought our energy was very appropriate. There was good energy but there was also controlled energy. Moments when we were down or when things weren't perfect we handled our business. No one was too low, no one was too high, it was just very even keeled for the entire game."
Monmouth Head Coach Jordan Trautman
 
"We talked about the draw controls going into this game – that was a huge piece of scout. We talked about the importance of winning it and having possession so there was a huge emphasis on the draw coming into the game and I think the draw unit stepped up and took responsibility for the job." Trautman on winning the draw
 
"I thought we played as a team today. We worked on cleaning up our stick work and the offense really pulled through. We work the best as a unit and everyone played their part today." Junior Caroline Bleck
 
"She was really strong today and had a nose for the cage in an aggressive way. She is somebody that we have wanted to elevate her game and have pushed her and she has been responding. Today was evidence of her stepping up and taking responsibility for some of the things she has been working on and producing in a game." Trautman on Bleck's production the first two games
 

• The last time Monmouth scored 20 was a 2013 win over Wagner (20-13)
• Monmouth has now tallied 84 shots in its two opening games
• Ceraso, the MAAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has 14 points in two games this season
• Bleck's seven goals is the most by a Monmouth player since Turturro scored eight last season against Manhattan
• Her seven goals was also one off the Monmouth record, achieved by four different players
• Hart moved into second all-time in draw controls for the Blue & White eclipsing Marial Pierce with 189. The Monmouth record is 232 by Kristina Vangeli
• Bleck was 3-for-3 on free position attempts as the Hawks as a team went 7-for-11
• Mills stuffed the stat sheet again for the Hawks, adding four ground balls, five draw controls and three caused turnovers to her four points

 
NUMBERS CRUNCH

• Monmouth outshot LIU 44-23, with 34 of those shots coming on-goal
• LIU netminder Hailey Duchnowski made 14 saves, including 10 in the second half
• The Shark offense was led by Jamie Alvino and Elise Person whom each had three goals
• The game had 11 total cards with eight assessed to LIU
• The Haws were 15 of 16 on clear attempts and committed just five turnovers in the second frame
• For the second straight game senior Sarah Gillogly scored two goals

 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will look to open the season 3-0 for the second consecutive season when they head to New Britain, CT to face Central Connecticut State. Opening draw is set for 2 PM from Arute Field.