Field Hockey Holds Off #20
Montclair State, 3-2
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (10/22/08) -
The Kean University field hockey team won its 12th straight game, a
3-2 victory over #20 Montclair State University, and defeated the
Red Hawks for the first time in over a decade on Wednesday evening
in New Jersey Athletic Conference action.
The Cougars (13-2, 3-0 NJAC) scored three straight goals in the
first half to erase a 1-0 deficit , as they hand the Red Hawks
(8-6, 0-4 NJAC) their sixth straight loss and defeat MSU for the
first time since 1996, a span of 14 games.
Montclair State took a 1-0 lead 14:44 into the contest when
Jessica Murphy (West Long Branch, N.J.) put a shot on goal
that Kean sophomore Ashlie Berghold (Boyertown,
Pa.) stopped. The ball bounced back out to Red Hawk
junior Megan Walsh (Lumberton, N.J.), who slammed in the rebound
for her fourth goal of the season.
The lead would be short-lived as Kean responded less than two
minutes later. Off a penalty corner, senior Katie McGee
(Cherry Hill, N.J.) fired a shot from the top of the
circle toward the left post where junior Brittany Gibbs
(West Deptford, N.J.) (pictured right) tipped the ball in
for her 22nd goal of the year.
Kean would add on two goals in the final 1:27 to take a 3-1 lead
into halftime. Montclair State was whistled for a penalty stroke
and Kean freshman Lauren Kusik (Randolph, N.J.)
capitalized on the opportunity by converting the stroke for her
fifth of the year.
The Cougars then got a penalty corner as time expired in the
first half. Sophomore Erica Kelly (West Deptford,
N.J.), off a scramble in front of the cage, had her
initial shot stopped however she poked in the rebound as Kean went
up by two goals.
Montclair State would climb within a goal midway through the
second half. Off a penalty corner of its own, sophomore Deana
Hagel (Fairfield, N.J.) and Jenna Gallo (Voorhees,
N.J.) each got off shots that Berghold made saves on. But
Hagel was able to knock in the third attempt at 49:50 as MSU drew
within 3-2. It was Hagel's fifth goal of the season.
Berghold would make one more save to finish with six as Kean was
outshot by the slim 13-12 margin, while the Cougars collected 10
penalty corners to MSU's seven. Goalkeeper Emina Udrjia (West
Paterson, N.J.) had four saves for Montclair State.
Kean, who faces four more nationally ranked teams to close out
the regular season, is home for #13 Elizabethtown College on
Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m.
