RIVERDALE, NY- Monmouth University's women's lacrosse team (6-2, 6-2 MAAC) had six different players score multiple goals as the Hawks defeated Manhattan College (0-7, 0-7 MAAC) by a score of 14-8 on Friday.
 
Monmouth dominated the draw, winning 16 of the 24 total opportunities including 11 of the 16 first-half opportunities. The Hawks were outshot by Manhattan 28-27 but Monmouth goalie Steph Delliturri turned away 14 shots in the game while Megan Hart had three caused turnovers, five ground balls and eight draw controls.
 
Seniors Caroline Bleck and Sarah Gillogly each tallied hat tricks in the win fellow seniors Chloe Novak, Allison Turturro and Nicole Ceraso tallying two goals apiece. Junior Hope Steuerwald also had a pair of goals in the contest as Ceraso led all players with a seven point effort (2g-5a).
 
The Hawks struck first on Ceraso's eighth goal of the season but Manhattan tied it up just over a minute later. That was the closest the Jaspers would threaten as the Hawks built a 5-1 lead. Monmouth's lead grew to 9-2 before  Manhattan scored a pair of late goals to cut the halftime deficit to 10-5. In that first half of play Gillogly had three goals and Ceraso had six points on a goal and five assists. The start of the second half was largely a defensive struggle as Manhattan goalie Ashley Gambardella made seven saves in the frame to keep her team in it. Eventually the Hawks would pull away scoring the final two goals of the game to win 14-8.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"We're so proud of our team effort today. Manhattan battled us, especially for a stretch of the second half, and we stood our ground. We made a few big stops, won draws, and put some balls in the back of the net. The staff is so pleased with the way we held strong and finished the game with a big win." – Interim Head Coach Christie Kaestner
 
 "The offense did a great job attacking their defense today. We shared the ball and were dangerous together as a unit. We played our strengths and made sure we controlled the game at our end of the field." - Kaestner on the balanced offense
 

• Monmouth is now 11-0 all-time against Manhattan, including a 6-0 record on the road
• The Hawks have now won four straight matches since dropping a one-goal contest to Canisius on March 20
• Monmouth owns the league's top-ranked scoring offense at 14.67 goals per game
• Sophomore Shannon Feeley had a pair of caused turnovers and two ground balls in the contest
• Sophomore Marissa Lagera tallied her first two career-points, two assists
• Manhattan's Carmella Liscio had three goals on five shots to lead Manhattan

 
NUMBERS CRUNCH

• Monmouth was just 3-of-7 on free position attempts
• Manhattan recorded 20 ground balls compared to 14 for Monmouth

 
UP NEXT
The Hawks and Jaspers will play again on Sunday. Opening draw is set for 12 PM