Monmouth to Face Rider in MAAC Field Hockey Championship
MAAC Sports
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – With an exciting finish to the game, top seed Monmouth University defeated number four seed Sacred Heart University, 2-1, in the second semifinal of the 2014 MAAC Field Hockey Championship, held at So Sweet A Cat Field on the campus of Monmouth University.
Monmouth got on the board early when the Hawks All-MAAC first team forwards Trish O’Dwyer and Amanda Schoenfeld connected on a cross to the opposite post to put Monmouth up 1-0 on Schoenfeld’s goal 16 minutes into the match. Eight minutes later Monmouth’s Julie Laszlo scored off a corner on an assist coming from All-MAAC second team member Alyssa Ercolino for her second goal of the year to lengthen Monmouth’s lead to 2-0. Late in the second half, Sacred Heart registered their first point of the game on a penalty stroke by All-MAAC first team selection Liz Bergman with 3:44 remaining in the game with Monmouth down two players. Sacred Heart was unable to even the score in the final minutes.
Monmouth goalkeeper Christen Piersanti made three saves, while Sacred Heart All-MAAC first team goalkeeper Mary Altepeter also had three saves.
Monmouth controlled possession through much of the match, while Sacred Heart pressured late in the match on an attempt to even up the score. The Hawks outshot the Pioneers 10-8. Monmouth was able to put seven shots on goal to Sacred Heart’s four. Monmouth, now 12-7, advances to the title game to face off against New Jersey rival Rider University. The winner of the championship game will be crowned the 2014 MAAC field hockey champions and advance to the NCAA tournament. The championship game will be broadcast live on MAAC.TV on Sunday, November 9 at 11am.
Sacred Heart concluded its season at 9-9 overall.
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