WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth scored five times in an 18-minute span midway through the contest as the top-seeded Hawks claimed their third consecutive MAAC Championship with a 7-1 victory over No. 3 seed Siena Women’s Soccer in the championship match. Freshman Emily McNelis scored for the Saints which wrapped up a successful 2018 campaign with a final record of 11-8-3.

 

MAAC Tournament MVP Madie Gibson opened the scoring with a penalty kick goal in the 16^th minute and added a pair of assists to finish with four points for Monmouth (16-3-1) which claimed its fourth title in six seasons since joining the league in 2013. MAAC All-Tournament Team selection Jesi Rossman added a pair of goals moments into the second half for the Hawks which will enter the NCAA Tournament on an 11-match winning streak.

 

McNelis scored her third postseason goal in as many matches for Siena to earn MAAC All-Tournament Team honors. The freshman, who finishes the season as the Saints’ leading scorer, was joined on the MAAC All-Tournament Team by senior captain Meghan Riccardi and sophomore Darby D’Angelo.

 

MAAC All-Tournament Team selection Lexi Palladino, Alli DeLuca, Jazlyn Moya, and Alexis Marino each added goals for Monmouth which won its 10^th MAAC Tournament match, tying Siena for the most MAAC Tournament wins since 2010.

 

MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year Taylor Dorado made four saves and Kamryn Peffley added one stop in goal for the Saints which were making the program’s fifth MAAC Championship Match appearance and fourth since 2006.

 

Siena graduates an accomplished six-member senior class which amassed 43 wins and MAAC Tournament berths in each of their four seasons, highlighted by the program’s second MAAC Championship during their freshman season of 2015. The sextet leaves behind a solid foundation for a program which is expected to return eight starters and nine of its top-10 scorers as the Saints prepare to chase their third ring in 2019.