PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Monmouth University women's soccer team responded from an early deficit and used a highlight-reel goal from Chloe Messer to earn a 1-1 draw against Providence on Thursday afternoon at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium.
The result moved Monmouth to 1-1-1 on the season, while Providence went to 1-0-2. The two sides were even statistically with Providence holding a 15-14 edge in total shots and a 9-7 advantage in corner kicks. Monmouth put six of its 14 attempts on target compared to just three for the Friars.
"We're really proud of the response the team showed tonight," said Head Coach Kylee Flynn. Coming off our previous game, we challenged the group to stay together, trust the game plan, and compete for 90 minutes, and they did exactly that."To go on the road against a very good Providence team and battle the way we did says a lot about this group. Our backline was outstanding, and Tallulah made huge saves when we needed her. That's the kind of performance and mentality we want to build on. "
Providence applied the early pressure and opened the scoring in the 13th minute, socoring off a corner kick that bounced around inside the 18-yard box.
Natalie McGovern helped the Hawks settle into the match, recording the team's first shot in the 22nd minute before Marie Bogue forced Providence goalkeeper Maria Ravotti into a save at 25:56. The Hawks continued searching for the equalizer as the first half moved into its closing stages.
The Hawks were able to break through in the closing minutes of the half. Messer took a pass from freshman Scarlett Leary and buried a shot from 30 yards out to bring Monmouth level in the 42nd minute. It was Messer's first goal of 2026 and the first assist in Leary's young collegiate career.
The Hawks came out aggressively after the break and controlled much of the attacking play during the opening portion of the second half. Monmouth recorded six shots in the first 14 minutes of the period, including attempts from rookie Saar van der Boom, Evangeline Perdomo and Ashley Lavrich. Loren Gehret, playing in her first match of the season, and Charlee Perna each put shots on goal, but Providence goalkeeper Caitlin Daley made a pair of saves to keep the match tied.
Monmouth finished with 11 second-half shots after recording just three in the opening 45 minutes. The Hawks continued to threaten late, with Lavrich forcing another Daley save in the 78th minute. Maddie DeMaio nearly provided the decisive goal in the final minute, but Daley stopped her attempt at 89:44 before Perna sent the final shot of the match high just seconds before the final whistle.
Messer led the Monmouth attack with the tying goal on two shots, while Leary recorded the assist. Perna, Lavrich and Gehret each registered multiple shots, and Miller finished the afternoon with two saves. Cadi Hoke, who has started every game over the past two seasons, played 90 minutes for the 20th-straight contest, while fellow senior and captain Emily De Almeida started for the 41st time in a Monmouth uniform on Thursday afternoon.
Flynn continued, "To go on the road against a very good Providence team and battle the way we did says a lot about this group. Our backline was outstanding, and Tallulah made huge saves when we needed her. That's the kind of performance and mentality we want to build on."
The draw marked Monmouth's first tie of the 2026 season and kept the Hawks unbeaten in two of their first three matches.
The Hawks will return to action next Thursday, concluding their current three game road swing with a 6 p.m. matchup with Army at West Point. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
