Monmouth Hawks (15-4-1, 8-1-1 MAAC) at Penn State Nittany Lions (11-7, 5-5 Big Ten)
Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 – 6 p.m. EST
Jeffrey Field, University Park, Pa.

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth women's soccer team is set to take on Penn State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at 6 p.m. in University Park, Pa.
 
Monmouth enters its eighth NCAA Tournament in program history on a five-game winning streak. During the five-game stretch, the Hawks outscored the opposition, 15-2, while allowing just one goal in the three MAAC Tournament games combined.
 
Penn State finished its 2021 season with an overall record of 11-7 while playing to a 5-5 mark in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions were most recently topped by Michigan in the conference tournament, 3-1, on Oct. 31.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are the following prices: 
Adults: $8 
Students: $5 
Youth: $3 
Groups of 20+: $3 
 
Tickets can be purchased at the Bryce Jordan Center Athletics Ticket Office Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. with cash, check or credit card.  
 
The day of the match at Jeffrey Field, fans will need to use cash to purchase tickets. Credit cards will NOT be accepted.
 
PARKING INFORMATION
For women's soccer matches, fans are asked to park in the Jordan East, Stadium West or Porter North lots. Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through ParkMobile - https://psu.parkmobile.io/. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each event. Event day parking will be $10 per vehicle and is cash only/can be purchased on the ParkMobile app. The East Deck is also available for most events for $1 per hour. 
  
Parking for all non-football athletics events is managed by Penn State Transportation Services. For more information or questions, visit transportation.psu.edu or email parking@psu.edu.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-Friday's contest marks just the third all-time meeting between Monmouth and Penn State.
-Both matchups came in the NCAA Tournament with the Nittany Lions holding the 2-0 series edge.
-These two teams last met on Nov. 15, 2013 when No. 24 Penn State bested Monmouth, 3-0 in University Park, Pa.
 
POSTSEASON KARABIN
Lauren Karabin put on an offensive clinic during the Hawks' 2021 MAAC Tournament title run en route to being named the tournament MVP on Nov. 7. The senior forward scored in each of the three games, tallying four goals and an assist. For her career, Karabin has compiled 20 career points in eight tournament games on nine goals and a pair of assists.
 
SHOT TAKER, SHOT MAKER
Lauren Karabin led the Hawks and ranks third in the MAAC in goals scored with 10. The Wall, N.J., native is the first Hawk to score double-digit goals in a season since Madie Gibson '20 and Rachelle Ross '18 finished with 12 and 10, respectively. She is one of just 74 Division I players to reach double figures in goals scored this season.
 
OFFENSE KEEPS ROLLING
Monmouth's offense has been scoring at a rapid pace since the regular season finale. The Hawks have compiled 14 goals in their last four outings, scoring three or more times in each game. Monmouth last posted three or more goals in four consecutive games during the 2019 season (Oct. 12-26). During the Hawks' recent offensive barrage, they set the program record for goals scored in the MAAC tournament with 11.
 
THE FACILITATOR
Senior Jesi Rossman has served as the Hawks' primary facilitator this season, dishing out a team-best nine assists. The nine helpers are the most in a single season in program history since Madie Gibson '20 handed out nine in 2017. In the three MAAC Tournament games, she recorded four assists with two coming in the championship game to pair with a goal against Quinnipiac.

SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Alexis Marino was a spark off the bench for Monmouth during the MAAC Tournament, scoring a goal in each of the three outings. In the quarterfinal and semifinal round matchups, Marino scored within the first six minutes of entering the game. In the title game, the senior scored 11 minutes into the second stanza after being subbed in at the half.
 
NCAA TOURNAMENT FOES
Monmouth took on three teams during the non-conference slate this season that made the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks took on Rutgers on Sept. 3, Providence on Sept. 5 and Harvard on Sept. 12.
 
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Monmouth women's soccer team will play in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in program history and the sixth time since 2013. The Hawks played at Brown in 2019, Virginia in 2016 and 2018, at Princeton in 2017, at Penn State in 2007 and 2013 and at Maryland in 2009.
 
ALL-MAAC HONORS
After claiming their eighth MAAC regular season title, eight Hawks garnered All-MAAC Team honors. Head coach Krissy Turner was tabbed the MAAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career, while Sarina Jones highlighted the honors for the players with the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honor. Jones was joined on the All-MAAC First Team by Jill Conklin, while Lauren Bruno, Lauren Karabin and Jesi Rossman collected second team recognition. Ava Allen, Gabby Allen and Olivia Ramiz earned all-rookie team recognition as well.