WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Ireen Frenken (Tilburg, Netherlands/ Odulphus Lyceum) scored twice while Annick van Lange (Sint-Job, Belgium/ Annuntia Institute) and Aylin Aufenacker (Hamburg, Germany/ Gymnasium Eppendorf) each found the back of the cage as the top-seeded Monmouth University field hockey team defeated fourth-seeded UMass Lowell, 4-1, in the America East Championship Semifinals.
 
With the win, the Hawks (10-2), ranked 20^th in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, will play in their fifth straight conference final on Saturday against No. 19 and third-seeded Stanford, which defeated Maine, 2-1, in the other semifinal matchup.
 
Just over two minutes into regulation, van Lange opened up the scoring with her sixth goal of the year deflecting in a pass from Reese Bloomstead (Ocean View, NJ/ Ocean City) from more than 20-yards out. UMass Lowell answered back with its only goal of the game five minutes later to even things at 1-1.
 
Frenken sent her third penalty stroke goal of the season into the netting to put the Hawks in front for good in the 20^th minute. Aufenacker cleaned up a rebound off a corner two minutes into the second half, while Frenken's second tally of the game six minutes later capped off the scoring.
 
Kate O'Hogan (Dublin, Ireland, Mount Anville Secondary) and Ally Tarantino  (Miller Place, NY,  Miller Place) combined for the win in cage for the Blue and White, with O'Hogan making two saves on the afternoon.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"It was a very satisfying win today against a highly motivated and skilled opponent. We were focused on our execution and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. We are excited to be back playing for a championship on 'The Cat'." -Monmouth Head Coach, Carli Figlio
 
- Monmouth will make its 11th overall appearance in a conference championship game. 
- It will be the Hawks' fifth-straight trip to a final, their second-straight in the America East.
- MU ran its winning streak to seven games.
- Monmouth has been victorious in all three meetings with UMass Lowell.
 
Numbers Crunch 
- Ireen Frenken registered her second multi-goal game of the season and now has 12 goals on the year. 
- Frenken has registered a point in 10 of the Hawks' 12 games this spring.  Her 12 goals and 27 points are both career bests in a single season.  The senior becomes the 14^th player all-time to amass 60 career points, increasing her total to 61.
- Annick van Lange increased her career point total to 77 with her three-point outing.  Her third career postseason marker gives her 33 career goals.
- Aylin Aufenacker scored her seventh goal of the season.  The Hawks are 12-0 when the sophomore scores a goal.
- Reese Bloomstead registered her second assist on the year.
- Kate O'Hogan earned her 31^st career victory in cage with her fourth career postseason victory. 
- Ally Tarantino made her postseason debut in the fourth quarter.
 
UP NEXT:
In a rematch from the 2019 final, the Hawks will face Stanford for the America East crown on Saturday, April 24^th at noon on So Sweet A Cat Field.  The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.