WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Monmouth University clinched a spot in the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women's Soccer postseason with a 2-1 victory over Fairfield on Hesse Field on Saturday night. The Hawks, who stand at 7-1 in league play, improved to 11-2-2 overall behind goals from juniors Erica Murphy (Millstone Township, NJ/Pennington Prep) and Rachael Ivanicki (Marlboro, NJ/Colts Neck), who also added an assist.

 

"Tonight was a terrific team effort from every player in our program," said head coach Krissy Turner. "I am extremely proud of this team. Successful teams find a way to win and we did that tonight."

 

The Hawks scored first in a match this season for the twelfth time against the Stags, when Ivanicki fed a ball into the box that Murphy drilled home for her team-leading 13th goal of the year.

 

Fairfield got the match level at 1-1 in the 24th minute when senior Karolyn Collins sent a long free kick into the box that junior Cassidy Boegel nodded on for her fourth tally of the year.

 

Monmouth regained the lead in the 52nd minute when junior Julie Spracklin (Eastampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) played a ball into the box that Ivanicki converted for her eighth goal of the campaign and a 2-1 Hawks' advantage.

 

Monmouth outshot Fairfield 17-14 in the match, forcing sophomore Jenna Pike to make five saves for the Stags. Junior Sydney Lavan (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) made a career-high seven stops in net for the Blue & White.

 

In a pregame ceremony on Senior Night, the program honored its senior class of Brianne Boyle, Danielle Axelrod, Cara Poole, Monique Goncalves, Kristen Brett and Colleen Howard, who have combined to win 52 matches for the Hawks to-date, and have registered a 31-4-3 record in conference play in their four seasons in West Long Branch.

 

Monmouth, which is now 7-0-1 at home, returns to action on Wednesday, October 21, when the Hawks host second-place Manhattan on Hesse Field at 7:00 p.m., on ESPN3.

 

@MUWSoccer -- #FlyHawks