March 13, 2013
Box Score
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Tied 8-8 with 2:01 remaining in the first overtime period, Monmouth's Marial Pierce scored the game-winning goal as the Hawks of Saint Joseph's fell to the Hawks of Monmouth, 9-8, on Wednesday afternoon on Kessler Field. SJU suffers just its second loss of the season as the Hawks stand at 5-2 overall, their best start in program history.
Following Pierce's goal, Monmouth gained control of the draw but lost possession, allowing Saint Joseph's junior defender Allison Heath to pick up the crucial ground ball for the Hawks with :50 remaining in the overtime period.
After a Monmouth penalty, Saint Joseph's was set up with a free position attempt at the :40 mark, but the Hawks were unable to convert as the offensive opportunity went wide.
Trailing 6-4 entering the second half, Monmouth (2-5) went on a 3-0 run to take the lead, 7-6, with 19:12 remaining in regulation.
Saint Joseph's junior attack Abby Ananian struck back, netting two straight goals (11:53, 2:58) to give the Hawks the 8-7 advantage heading into the final minutes of play.
However, a Saint Joseph's penalty allowed for a Monmouth free-position shot at the 1:47 mark, and its successful conversion tied the score at eight goals apiece to send the game into overtime.
Both Hawks alternated in goal scoring in the first half, with junior midfielder Val Paolucci's four goals all coming in the first 30 minutes of play.
Paolucci added two assists while she and Ananian (three goals, three assists) led SJU in scoring with six points each. On the defensive end, Heath and junior Brittany Hanrahan combined for six of the Hawks' 13 ground balls while freshman Caroline Hagan caused a game-high three turnovers.
Freshman goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin dropped to 4-2 on the season after making four saves in the loss.
For the game, Saint Joseph's and Monmouth were seemingly equivalent in shots (16-20), draw controls (10-11), and turnovers (14-15), but the Hawks of Monmouth held an 18-13 advantage in ground balls. SJU was not able to convert on their free-position shots, going scoreless out of three attempts from the eight-meter.
The Hawks will look to bounce back this Sunday, March 17, when they host Old Dominion at 1:00 p.m. on Finnesey Field.
