HAWKS DEFEAT CANISIUS 1-0 TO ADVANCE

November 1, 2013
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Top-seeded Monmouth University advanced to the 2013 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women's Soccer Championship semifinals with a 1-0 victory over No. 9 seed Canisius on Friday afternoon. The Hawks, now 15-1-2 on the year, got the game-winner from senior Monique Plescia (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Regional-Old Tappan) in the 68th minute to advance to Sunday's Semifinal #1 versus No. 5 seed Rider at 11:00 a.m., on ESPN3.
 
Following a scoreless first half, the Hawks got on the board in the 68th minute when senior Karly Tolentino (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Odyssey Academy) got to the endline and served a cross that Plescia put away for the game-winner, Plescia's sixth of the season, the 18th of her career, and her eighth game-winning tally. The assist was Tolentino's first of her Monmouth career.
 
"It was a difficult match for us," stated head coach Krissy Turner, whose Hawks earned their 15th win of the season, the most for the Blue & White since going 15-5-1 in 2009, Monmouth's last NCAA Tournament season. "We did enough to get the result and at this point in the season that is what matters. It was great teamwork with Karly and Monique on the goal. We received contributions from so many players, which was critical with the temperatures hovering in the high 80's."
 
Monmouth, now on a 12-game unbeaten streak,  held a 13-7 edge in shots and a 6-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities, while Golden Griffin goalkeeper Megan Tock was forced to make four saves.
 
Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Ashley Lewis (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) made four stops in net for the Hawks, who posted their 14th shutout on the season, now one clean sheet away from tying the program record of 15 shutouts set during the 1995 campaign.
 
Monmouth, which has not allowed a goal in the last 583:58 of action, will face No. 5 seed Rider on Sunday, November 3 in the MAAC Semifinals, as the Broncs defeated No. 4 seed Marist 2-1 to advance. Kick off is set for 11:00 a.m., on Hess Field 17 and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
@MUWSoccer -- #FlyHawks
 
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