STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Monmouth University women's soccer team controlled the majority of Sunday afternoon's contest but was unable to turn its chances into goals, falling to Wagner, 2-1, at Hameline Field at Wagner College Stadium.
Freshman Daniella Butash scored the lone goal for the Hawks (1-1-0), but a pair of Wagner goals on just seven total attempts proved to be the difference. Monmouth finished the match with a 28-7 advantage in shots, including a 13-5 edge in shots on target, while generating 11 corner kicks to Wagner's one. The Hawks also controlled 63 percent of the possession.
Monmouth established itself in the attacking third almost immediately. Evangeline Perdomo forced Wagner goalkeeper Abigail Marcello into her first save in the eighth minute before Marie Bogue and Ashley Lavrich each tested the Seahawks' netminder later in the opening 20 minutes. The Hawks generated six corner kicks over the first 23 minutes and continued to apply pressure throughout the half.
Despite being outshot heavily, Wagner struck first in the 37th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
Monmouth's response came just 51 seconds later.
After entering as a substitute in the 28th minute, Butash pulled the Hawks level at 37:24 with her first goal of her collegiate career. Butash had already put a shot on net minutes earlier and finished the opening half with three shots, including two on target.
The Hawks entered halftime tied despite holding a 14-2 advantage in shots and an overwhelming 10-0 edge in corner kicks.
Wagner regained the lead just over five minutes into the second half, scoring what would prove to be the game-winning-goal in the 51st minute and taking a 2-1 lead.
Monmouth continued to pressure the Wagner defense for the remainder of the contest. Lavrich put three shots on target during a five-minute stretch between the 58th and 62nd minutes, while Brooke De Almeida and Maddie DeMaio later forced Marcello into additional saves. Marcello turned aside seven shots in the second half to preserve the lead.
Lavrich paced the Monmouth attack with eight shots and five attempts on goal. Bogue added four shots, while Butash finished with three shots and Monmouth's lone goal. Marcello totaled 12 saves for Wagner, while Tallulah Miller made three stops for the Hawks.
Monmouth will return to action on Thursday when it heads to Rhode Island to take on BIG EAST foe Providence. Kickoff from Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium is set for 4 p.m.
