WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Playing in their third game in six days, Monmouth's women's lacrosse team (2-1) defeated Iona (0-2) at home on Sunday afternoon.
 
Senior Megan Hart set the Monmouth career draw control record with her first draw win of the game, surpassing former Hawk Kristina Vangeli's record of 232. Hart had already set the single-season record with her 101 wins in 2019.
 
Nine different Hawks scored in the contest, led by Caroline Bleck and Nicole Ceraso who each notched hat tricks in the contest. Ceraso finished with six points, tallying three assists as seniors Chloe Novak and Allison Turturro each had a pair of goals. Steph Delliturri registered nine saves in 54 minutes of work while sophomore Shannon Feeley had a pair of caused turnovers and three ground balls.
 
Iona got on the board first with a Caton Brisbin goal with 25:24 left in the first but Ceraso answered less than a minute later to tie it up. From there out it was all Monmouth as the Blue & White rattled off eight unanswered and took a 8-1 lead into halftime. The Hawks built a 13-3 lead in the second before each team tallied a pair of goals in the final 13 minutes to finish the scoring.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
Interim Head Coach Christie Kaestner
"Today was another great team effort. It was so important to have a gritty win today and get back into the win column. We were able to grind out a tough win today and feel good going into the next two weeks with the bye week."
 
Kaestner on playing teams twice in a regular season
"Its certainly unique this year playing teams twice. It definitely gives teams an opportunity to make adjustments and see some different things. Credit to Iona for making some adjustments and coming out swinging at us, it definitely gave us a good test.
 
Kaestner on Hart breaking the record
"I'm beyond proud of Megan Hart and her once in a lifetime accomplishment. She works tirelessly on her game and without her, we wouldn't have nearly the success we do as a team. To set this record is something she will have with her forever. Hart has set the bar so high and I couldn't be more grateful she's a Monmouth Hawk!"
 
 

• Hart tied Vangeli's record Friday night against Marist, then added four draw controls in today's win
• The Hawks outscored Iona 30-8 in two games this season
• Bleck had three or more goals in six out of Monmouth's eight games last season
• Monmouth is now 9-1 all-time against Iona, including 7-0 at home
• Two Hawks scored their first career goals in Ashley Nutt and Mya Brock
• Sophomore Kennedy Fruit got her first action in goal this season for MU, finishing with one save

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Iona outshot the Hawks 31-29 however only 15 of those were on-goal compared to 24 for the Hawks
• Iona had 13 draw controls to just eight for Monmouth
• The Hawks were five-of-seven in free position shots, Iona was 1-2
• Iona committed 16 turnovers, MU had 11
• Senior defender Emily Holtz had a ground ball and a pair of caused turnovers
• Konachek led the Gaels with two goals

 
UP NEXT
The Hawks have a 12-day layoff before hosting Quinnipiac on March 26 at 3 PM.