The 25th ranked Monmouth University’s Field Hockey team spilt their games over the weekend. On Friday afternoon they suffered a 3-1 loss to Fairfield University in Fairfield, C.T. They successfully rebounded on Sunday by beating Hofstra University 3-0 in Hempstead, N.Y. With the spilt the Hawks improve to 9-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
The loss on Friday was frustrating for the Hawks. Monmouth outshot the Stags by seven and took ten more attacking corners. It was a lack of execution that brought the first loss of the season upon the Hawks as the offensive chances were ample.
“Fairfield’s effort and execution won them the game today. Hopefully we can recognize our errors and correct them as we face another tough road test on Sunday at Hofstra,” said Head Coach Carli Figlio after the game.
The Stags were first to score in the 14th minute and quickly followed that up five minutes later to take a 2-0 lead into the half. Coming out the half scoring was hard to come by. It took until the 60th minute before another goal was scored and it was by Fairfield. With the goal the Stags took a substantial 3-0 lead.
The Hawks finally put one on the board in the 66th minute thanks to senior forward Mallory Kusakavitch off an assist from senior defender Julie Laszlo. At this point however, the game was essentially over and the Hawks winning streak ended at six.
Monmouth responded to the loss with an impressive 3-0 win over Hofstra on Sunday afternoon. Three different Hawks contributed goals in the win and both offensive and defensive performed effectively. The Hawks, like in their previous game, led in the shot department. Unlike the previous game however, the Hawks successful converted those chances into three goals to secure a victory.
Kusakavitch opened the scoring in the 28th minute off a feed from sophomore forward Josephine van der Hoop. This was Kusakavitch’s second goal in as many games and with it the Hawks entered the half up by one.
Junior forward Kelly Hanna put the Hawks up two nine minutes later by deflecting a shot into the net. This was Hanna’s eighth of the season and marks a career high for her. Scoring was capped off when junior forward Elyssa Okken added a goal in the 51st minute thanks to another van der Hoop’s assist to extend the led to three.
The Hawks defensive once again showed how stifling they can be in this game. Hofstra only managed five total shots with three of those on goal. This was the fourth shutout of the season for the team. Additionally, senior goalkeeper Christen Piersanti made three saves and earned her 45th win in her career and her 17th shutout.
“It was great to rebound today with a win. We came together in the second half as a team and started playing Monmouth field hockey,” Figlio said.
Also of note, Hanna earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Offensive Player of Week. This is the second time she has been tabbed as Offensive Player of the Week this season and it was due to her part in securing a victory last week over Sacred Heart University.
The Hawks will return home Friday, Oct. 13 where they will face off against LIU Brooklyn at 4:00 p.m. They will then travel to Villanova on Sunday, Oct. 15 for a non-conference matchup against the Wildcats at 12 p.m.
PHOTO COURTESY of Karlee Sell
