WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Monmouth University women's soccer team twice erased one-goal deficits and Tallulah Miller turned in a career performance in goal as the Hawks battled unbeaten UNCW to a 2-2 draw on Thursday night at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
Ashley Lavrich scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season and Maddie DeMaio added her second, while Miller established a career high with eight saves, including a penalty-kick stop with less than seven minutes remaining. The result moved Monmouth to 5-2-3 overall and 0-1-1 in CAA play. It was the first draw between Monmouth and UNCW, moving the Hawks to 2-1-1 all-time against the Seahawks.
UNCW controlled much of the opening half and struck first in the 10th minute. After Miller made an early save, Kamrey Watkins finished the first goal of the game to put the Seahawks ahead, 1-0.
The home squad continued to apply pressure, but Miller kept Monmouth within one, making three saves in quick succession. UNCW held a 12-1 advantage in first-half shots, but Miller's four saves allowed the Hawks to enter halftime trailing by just one goal.
Monmouth responded immediately after the break. DeMaio set up Lavrich in the 49th minute, and Lavrich converted to pull the Hawks level at 1-1. The goal was Lavrich's sixth of the campaign, extending her team lead, while DeMaio picked up the assist.
The tie lasted just two-and-a-half minutes. Abbey Pierson found the back of the net in the 52nd minute to resore UNCW's advantage, 2-1.
Monmouth answered again. After Lavrich forced goalkeeper Zoe Anderson into a save in the 57th minute, the Hawks found their second equalizer in the 67th. Brooke De Almeida had her initial attempt blocked before DeMaio followed and finished the opportunity to tie the match at 2-2. The goal was DeMaio's second of the season.
It marked the first time since 2021 that Monmouth scored multiple game-tying goals in the same match.
The Hawks' biggest defensive moment came in the closing stages. With the match still tied, UNCW earned a penalty kick at in the 84th minute. Allie Planeaux stepped to the spot, but Miller denied the attempt with a diving stop to her right to preserve the 2-2 score. The stop was Monmouth's first penalty save since the 2022 season.
Miller followed the penalty stop with another save against Leonard just over a minute later and denied Watkins in the final minute to put a bow on a back-and-forth final minutes to help the Hawks secure the road point. Monmouth also threatened late, as Brooke De Almeida forced Anderson into a save in the 86th minute before DeMaio sent an attempt high in the 88th.
Miller finished with a career-best eight saves on 10 shots on goal. Lavrich scored on one of her two attempts on target, while DeMaio finished with a goal and an assist. UNCW held a 21-8 advantage in shots, while each side earned four corner kicks.
The 2-2 result gave Monmouth its first CAA point of the season and its first-ever draw against UNCW. The Hawks will stay below the Mason-Dixon Line on Sunday, heading to South Carolina to face Charleston. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on FloSports.
