Monmouth University’s men’s lacrosse team (4-5, 1-2 MAAC) was defeated 6-3 by MAAC-leader St. Bonaventure (8-2, 3-0 MAAC) on Sat. marking the first time MU has ever been defeated by their conference foe. The loss drops the Hawks to 4-5 on the season, and 1-2 in MAAC conference play. The defensive showcase at Marra Athletics Field was hard fought through the first two quarters, with the game locked at 3-3 for much of the action.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that St. Bonaventure’s offense broke the game open, tacking on three third quarter goals to lift their lead to 6-3, giving them the victory over the Hawks. Regarding MU’s defensive performance, Head Coach Brian Fisher said “It always hurts when you lose but it is even more difficult to stomach when you’re able to hold a conference opponent to only six goals. Even more frustrating is that the loss overshadows a lot of really good play at times and some really strong individual efforts on the day.”
Of those individual efforts was Noah Lode’s performance in goal for Monmouth University, making 17 saves in the contest. Max Brooks, Nick Teets, and Jack Daly provided the three points managed by MU’s offense, but were unable to secure the win. The defeat was Monmouth’s first loss on the year to an opponent who scored less than 10 goals.
The Monmouth University women’s lacrosse team secured a win over MAAC opponent Iona College, 17-12, on the road on Wed
The Hawks (7-6, 2-2 MAAC) were tied at 7-7 with the Gaels (7-5, 0-4 MAAC) going into the third quarter, when Cassidy Orban kickstarted a 6-1 Monmouth run that would stretch into the fourth. With just 5:38 remaining, Iona clawed back to within three before the Hawks buried them with another three unanswered goals, securing the MAAC victory for MU.
Cassidy Orban was lighting it up offensively, providing six goals on nine shots, which now leads all Monmouth scorers. Orban’s hat trick marked her fifth as she extended her point streak to 13 consecutive games. The graduate attack has scored multiple goals in all of her last 6 games. Hope Steuerwald also extended a scoring streak of her own to the same tune of 13 consecutive games, notching a hat trick of her own on five shots. Caroline Brennan, Mary Kate George, and Maddie Murphy all found themselves in the multi-scoring column as well, with two goals apiece on the day.
Defensively, Gina Verrone pulled in four ground balls, a team-high on the year, and Shannon Feeley recorded three of her own. In goal for the Hawks was Madi Bednarik, with a solid 11 saves on the way to tallying her fifth victory in-goal.
Monmouth University’s women’s lacrosse team (8-6, 3-2 MAAC) provided fireworks once again on Saturday with a 19-14 victory over Canisius (8-4, 3-2 MAAC) at Kessler Stadium. The offensive contest saw nine different Hawks score against their MAAC opponent.
With an 8-5 lead entering the second half, Monmouth put up six unanswered goals on the Golden Griffins, burying them under a barrage of offensive firepower. Hope Steuerwald and Cassidy Orban each extended their scoring streaks another game, combining for five goals in the Hawks second half run, and totaling four goals each on the day.
On top of her offensive performance, Orban recorded a career-high 10 draw controls, her first career game entering double digits in the category. Mya Brock provided the Hawks with three goals as well, notching her first hat trick in her collegiate career. MU managed to force 10 turnovers against the Golden Griffins, with Gina Verrone and Shannon Feeley tallying two apiece. Goalkeeper Madi Bednarik was solid yet again, blocking eight shots as she recorded her sixth win in-goal for Monmouth.
