UNION, N.J. (9/22/15) – NJAC field hockey scoring leader Krista LaMaina recorded her fourth hat trick of the year to lead the Cougars to a 6-2 win over Marywood University on Tuesday. The Cougars are now 10-0 on the season.
Just twenty-six seconds into the first half, LaMaina (pictured left) lofted a shot over the keeper's right shoulder for her first goal of the night.
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But it wasn't long before Marywood (3-3) fired back. Tori Jo Kakusian scored off a corner to tie the game at one with an assist from Julie Kowalski.
Teresa Carr scored the second goal for the Cougars from the top of the circle, set up nicely by Shauna LaMaina at 25:34.
Krista LaMaina kept her hot streak going by gathering the ball after a blocked shot and slamming it home for Kean goal number three at 27:55. Chelsea Mann, who had the initial shot, was awarded the assist.
Nevertheless, the Pacers ended the half down by only one. They earned a goal off a corner by Kakusian assisted by Gabbie Bower with no time on the clock. If not for a defensive save by Katie-Lynne Lussier with 4:11 to go, the game may have been tied at the break.
The Cougars re-asserted themselves out of the stoppage. Second-half goals came off the sticks of Lussier, Samantha Coppola and finally Krista LaMaina for the hat trick. The Kean defense held the Pacers to just five second-period shots.
Two minutes in, Lussier scored off a bad-angle shot after a feed from Shauna LaMaina. Later, Coppola collected the ball after a broken play and lofted to the top of the cage to score. It was the freshman's first collegiate goal.
Krista LaMaina sealed her hat trick with a penalty stroke in the 57th minute of the match.
The Cougars are undefeated on the season, and are winners of 10-straight games. Katie DiCarlo earned the victory in goal on Tuesday as she has in each game for Kean. Shauna LaMaina finished with two assists.
The Cougars will head to Hoboken this Sunday for a Garden State grudge match against Stevens Institute of Technology at 1 p.m.
