FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 1 (1-0-0)
Lehigh 0 (0-1-0)

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Monmouth University women's soccer team started its 2021 season with a victory thanks to a late second-half goal by Lauren Karabin on Friday evening at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn.

The Preseason All-MAAC selection took advantage of a free kick opportunity in the 81st minute when she scored from 28 yards out. The right-footed strike glanced off the fingertips of the diving Lehigh goalie Violette Bonvallet and into the far corner, giving Monmouth the decisive tally. 

On the other end Rebecca Winslow stood tall with five saves, a few in critical moments, to collect the shutout.  

NOTES & QUOTES
"This was a hard-fought win for our team. I am super proud of our fight and determination. It was also great to have fans back in the stands and the support tonight was tremendous."
- Head Coach Krissy Turner

- Monmouth is 23-13-1 all-time in season opening games. 
- The Hawks are 26-8-3 all-time in home-opening games.
- Gabby Allen made her first-career start on defense in her collegiate debut. 
- Erin Dailey made her Monmouth debut as a starter in the midfield.
- Olivia Denney and Ava Allen each saw their first collegiate action as substitutes.
- Monmouth leads the all-time series against Lehigh, 10-4-5. The victory was Monmouth's first against Lehigh in the last six meetings (1-1-4). 
- The Hawks wore their white jerseys and white shorts.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Lauren Karabin scored her ninth-career goal and first of the year. It was her fifth-career game winner.
- Rebecca Winslow registered her first clean sheet of the season and the fifth of her career. Winslow extended her shutout streak to 364:51 
- Monmouth is unbeaten in 58 straight matches when scoring first (57-0-1).
- Monmouth outshot Lehigh, 17-12.
- The Hawks earned five corner kicks, while Lehigh took two.

NEXT UP
- Monmouth travels to Newark, NJ on Monday afternoon for a matchup with NJIT. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.