WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.  – The Monmouth University women's lacrosse team used a dominant second half, including an explosive seven-goal fourth quarter, to defeat La Salle, 16-6, on Wednesday afternoon at Kessler Stadium. With the win, the Hawks improve to 2-0 on the season.

Monmouth outshot La Salle 42-17 and controlled possession throughout, going a perfect 24-for-24 on clears while holding a 14-10 edge in draw controls and an 18-8 advantage in ground balls.

After Brooke Lacey opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the contest, La Salle answered with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead midway through the first quarter. The Hawks responded with goals from Sophia Lymberis and Shea Berigan to take a 3-2 advantage after one.

The second quarter featured three ties, the last coming at 5-5 with 5:51 remaining in the half. Marlaina Grimm's free-position tally earlier in the frame and a pair of key defensive stands kept Monmouth within striking distance before the Hawks used a strong third quarter to seize control.

Monmouth outscored La Salle 4-0 in the third period. Olivia Castaldo started the run, and Lauren Rismani followed with an unassisted goal before assisting on consecutive man-up tallies by Brooke Lacey and Sophia Lymberis. The Hawks carried a 9-5 lead into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to Monmouth. Berigan and Grimm scored 21 seconds apart to spark a 7-0 run that extended the lead to 16-5. Cara Major and Chloe Key each converted free-position opportunities during the stretch, while Paige Kidd and Castaldo added goals in transition.

Notes

• Lauren Rismani had five assists and a goal, becoming the first player since Danielle McNeely in 2022 to have at least five helpers in a game.
• Rismani leads the Hawks through two games with eight assists and 11 points. Her three goals are tied for third most on the team.
• Freshman Marlaina Grimm set a new season-best with five points on three goals and two helpers, earning the first hat trick of her young career. The Pottstown, Pa., product had six points and four goals through two games.
• Shea Berigan earned her second hat trick in two games this season, going for three goals against the Explorers. She leads the Hawks with seven goals this season and extended her point streak to a team-best 17 games.
• Sophia Lymberis scored two goals to extend her goal-scoring streak to six straight games.
• Freshman Olivia Castaldo scored the first two goals of her career.
• Brooke Lacey tallied her second straight multi-point game, scoring two goals and tallying an assist.
• Goalkeeper Katie Sullivan made seven saves, marking her second straight game with a save percentage over 50.
• Sophia Ianno had a team-best four draw controls.
• Monmouth outshot La Salle, 42-17, recording its most shots in a single game since firing 44 attempts in a 20-6 win over FDU on Feb. 14, 2024.
• Monmouth finished 4-for-8 on free-position attempts and converted two of its three man-up opportunities.
• The Hawks were a perfect 24-of-24 on clear opportunities
• With the victory, Monmouth improves to 2-0 for the third time in the last five years and the fifth time in Head Coach Jordan Trautman's nine-year tenure.
• Monmouth wins its home opener for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
• The Hawks take a 4-3 lead in the all-time series against La Salle, winning the first matchup between the two schools since 2011.

Up Next
Monmouth will head to Staten Island on Saturday to face Wagner. Opening draw is set for 11 a.m.