Sacred Heart Back in NEC Title Game
from press release
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Sacred Heart trio
of seniors Amanda Williams (Monroe, CT) and Mary Montesarchio
(Cortlandt Manor, NY) and junior Carissa Hauser (East Northport,
NY) combined to score 10 goals as the top-seeded Pioneers advanced
to the 2009 Northeast Conference Championship game with a 13-7 win
over Monmouth Friday afternoon on Campus Field. Hauser led all
players with four goals as the Pioneers improved to 11-6 with win.
The loss ends the Hawks season at 7-11 overall.
The Pioneers (11-6) outshot the Hawks (7-11) 25 to 14 and dominated
on draws, winning 15 of 22 on the afternoon. Hauser added an assist
to her four tallies while both Williams and Montesarchio scored
three times. Montesarchio added four caused turnovers, three draw
wins and three ground balls to go with a pair of assists for a
five-point afternoon. MU juniors Megan Brennan and Shawn Evans each
scored three goals for the Hawks.
Monmouth struck first at Brennan converted on an 8meter free
position attempt at 26:20. Montesarchio and Williams went back to
back at 25:08 and 23:40 for a 2-1 advantage. The Hawks struck back
to tie take a 3-2 lead as Evans hit from 8meters followed by a
Carissa Franzi marker off a feed from Brennan. The Pioneers
answered right back just 32 seconds later as Williams set up
Montesarchio for her second of the afternoon.
Montesarchio set up freshman Alicia Fuchs (Bay Shore, NY) on a
one-timer at 18:37 and fellow freshman Kate Kmiotek (Farmingville,
NY) made it a 5-3 SHU lead with 16:24 to go on a free position
goal. The Hawks briefly halted the Pioneer's momentum as Brennan
tacked on her second of the day, unassisted, at 15:15 but SHU ended
the half with four-straight to lead 9-4 at the break.
Junior Cori Horelik (South Windsor, CT) started the rally at 13:34
with an unassisted score followed by goals by Williams, Hauser and
Montesarchio, her third of the day with just six ticks left before
halftime horn.
Monmouth ended nearly a 20 minute scoreless stretch by opening the
second half with two straight off the sticks of Brennan and Evans
to cut the Pioneers lead to 9-6. MU goalie Monica Johnson, who
turned in six of her eight saves in the second half, helped keep
the Pioneer offense at bay until the 16:30 mark. Hauser ended the
drought with an 8meter goal followed by an unassisted marker from
Williams for an 11-6 advantage.
Evens was able to cut the deficit to four with her third of the day
at 10:17 but the Pioneer defense locked down the Hawks over the
last 10 minutes and tacked on two more Hauser scores to produce the
13-7 final score.
The Pioneers will host the NEC Championship game this Sunday, April
26th on Campus Field. Opening draw is scheduled for 1:00 pm
