WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Chloe Messer recorded the first multi-goal performance of her collegiate career and the Monmouth University women's soccer played to a 2-2 draw against Elon on Sunday afternoon at a rainy Hesse Field on the Great Lawn.
The Hawks, who produced a season-high 27 shot attempts, took a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period, Elon was able to rally and find a pair of scores to leave West Long Branch with a point.
The result moved Monmouth to 7-2-5 overall and 2-1-3 in CAA play. The Hawks controlled much of the afternoon statistically, finishing with a 27-9 advantage in shots, a 10-7 edge in shots on goal and a commanding 12-1 advantage in corner kicks. Monmouth also held 58 percent of the possession.
Monmouth applied pressure from the opening whistle. Messer had an attempt blocked just 78 into the match before Charlee Perna and Messer each forced Elon goalkeeper Naomi Person into saves during the opening three minutes. The Hawks earned three corner kicks before the eight-minute mark and continued to control play in the attacking third.
The breakthrough came in the 15th minute. Evangeline Perdomo's cross found the head of Perna, who passed it to Messer, who converted with a header of her own to give Monmouth a 1-0 advantage. The goal was Messer's third of the season.
The senior from Jackson, N.J., remained at the center of the attack and doubled the Hawks' lead later in the half. Ashley Lavrich's corner kick service found Messer's head at in the 33rd minute for her second goal of the afternoon. The finish gave Messer four goals on the season and completed the first two-goal match of her collegiate career.
Elon cut the deficit in half before the break, scoring in the 39th minute, allowing the Phoenix to enter halftime trailing 2-1 despite Monmouth holding a 13-3 advantage in shots and an 8-0 edge in corner kicks.
The visitors carried momentum into the second half and forced Tallulah Miller into three saves during the opening seven minutes, before eventually finding the equalizer in the 63rd minute to make it 2-2.
Monmouth responded by creating a series of chances over the final half hour. Daniella Butash forced Person into a save in the 70th minute before Messer nearly completed the hat trick six minutes later, only to be denied by the Elon goalkeeper.
The Hawks mounted one final push in the closing minutes. Maddie DeMaio put an attempt on goal in the 81st minute, while Lavrich generated three shots between the 86th and 89th minutes. Brooke De Almeida had a shot on goal in the final minute, and Perdomo put Monmouth's final attempt on target with 36 seconds remaining, but Person made the stop. Miller answered with a save at the other end as time expired to secure the draw.
Messer led all players with eight shots and four attempts on goal to go along with her two goals. DeMaio added six shots, while Lavrich finished with three attempts and an assist. Miller made five saves over the full 90 minutes.
The draw extended Monmouth's unbeaten streak to four matches, with the Hawks earning two wins and two ties during the stretch. The Hawks will look to make it points in five straight next Sunday when they head to Long Island to face Hofstra. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Hempstead, N.Y.
