Monmouth Falls to Princeton in 2014 NCAA Championship Play-In Game
MAAC Sports
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University Hawks fell to the Princeton University Tigers 4-3 on Wednesday in an NCAA field hockey play-in game, held at So Sweet A Cat Field on the campus of Monmouth University.
Monmouth University, the 2014 MAAC field hockey champions, made their first ever NCAA field hockey appearance against the 2012 NCAA field hockey national champions and battled to a one goal decision. With just under ten minutes played in the first period, Princeton’s Allison Evans scored an unassisted goal off a rebound to give the Tiger’s an early one goal lead. The Hawks fought back scoring two goals in ten minutes. The first goals was scored to the opposite post by 2014 MAAC Rookie of the Year Meg Donahue off a cross pass from 2014 MAAC Player of the Year Trish O’Dwyer. At the 28:06 mark O’Dwyer had her second assist of the game off a corner that went to 2014 MAAC All-Championship team selection Julie Laszlo who knocked her shot into the cage for her third goal of the year to put the Hawks up 2-1. Just before the half, Princeton would tie the game 2-2 on Teresa Benvenuti’s goal from Hailey Reeves. Under six minutes into the second half Benvenuti scored her second goal of the game unassisted on a backhand shot to put the Tigers up 3-2. Allison Evans put the ball into the cage for her second goal of the game for Princeton at the 64:29 mark with assists coming from Benvenuti and Reeves. With 13 seconds remaining in the game All-MAAC First Team selection Cori Allen knocked in a goal during a penalty stroke to bring the Hawks within one. Time would not be on Monmouth’s side, as the clock ran out before the Hawks could tie the game.
The teams controlled even possession throughout the match, with the Hawk’s and Tiger’s each taking nine shots and each having six of those shots on goal. Monmouth goalkeeper Christen Piersanti made two saves, while Princeton goalkeeper Anya Gersoff had three saves in the match.
Monmouth finishes their impressive season with an overall record of 13-8, while being the first MAAC field hockey team to host a NCAA contest.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 8-10 on the season and will travel to face number two seed University of Maryland in first round action on Saturday, Nov. 15. Game time is set for 11:30 a.m.
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