The women’s soccer team posted its first draw of the season Sunday night on the Great Lawn, with the final score of 1-1 in a match that went into double overtime against Rider. The Hawks now post a record of 3-4-1 as they end their non-conference schedule.
Starting the season off slowly, Krissy Turner’s women’s soccer team continued to play well and perhaps find their groove on Sunday night. Despite giving up an early goal in the first half, the Hawks changed the momentum of the game with a tenacious mentality to fight back no matter what. “We’ve been down so many times it doesn’t really phase us any-more,” explains Turner. It is that kind of mentality that has helped Monmouth climb up the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings.
Although the Hawks are a young team they have a great mixture of youth, determination and players that continue to step up. Those among many reasons have helped fuel the Hawks strong play in recent weeks. “We have had some players that were out with injuries and I think the players that have stepped in have done a pretty good job,” said Turner. Even though the team has a lack of experience they have fought hard against strong opponents this season and continue to improve week by week. “The experience of getting into these games is going to help us when we get into conference play,” states sophomore defender Alexa Freguletti.
In MU’s final non-conference game of the season, they gave up a goal early in the 14th minute. However, the Hawks would scratch and claw their way back into the game by showing poise and heart. Monmouth fought hard and tied it up in the 17th minute. The goal was scored by Freguletti and it was her first goal of the season.
Junior Dana Costello struck a beautiful free kick into the box, which was then gathered up by junior forward Monique Plescia with a powerful strike that would bounce off of the crossbar, until it landed onto the foot of Freguletti, and finally into the back of the net.
On a play where there was chaos in the box, it was teamwork, trust, focus and being in the right position at the right time, that brought the Hawks back into the game. “As a defender I know that things hap-pen in the box all the time and Monique took a great turn and look at the net, hit it and it hit the crossbar and I just happened to follow in on the shot,” says Freguletti.
This Hawks team has battled all season long and it continued Sunday night versus Rider.
Despite the score ending 1-1, MU took a huge step tonight in not only fighting back but controlling the ball. With a strong all-around performance, the Hawks had the better play throughout the majority of the game. The Hawks outshot the Rider Broncs 22-15 throughout the match which had a plethora of saves by the Broncs keeper.
The Hawks played with such class, grace and determination that it was hard to imagine that they would not end up winning this game. “I think that’s the game of soccer, a lot of the times you play so well and you play your heart out and sometimes it is just not enough,” Freguletti explains.
The Hawks will return to the field Friday night September 21, at 7 pm, when the NEC play begins on the road against Central Connecticut.
PHOTO COURTESY of MU Photography
