Brooklyn, N.Y. – A fast start by Monmouth helped hold off the Long Island University women's lacrosse team, 21-13, on Friday afternoon at LIU Field in Northeast Conference action. The Blackbirds cut a double-digit halftime deficit in half midway through the second period, but were unable to overcome the early hole. LIU had seven players score in the contest to balance the offense.

LIU (3-12, 2-6 NEC) fell behind 5-0 in the opening 5:37 before freshman Claire Ranney (Jarrettsville, Md.) put the Blackbirds on the board. Monmouth extended the lead with three straight goals before junior Christie Wienckowski (Newton Square, Pa.) sandwiched a pair of goals around a Hawks score to make it 7-3.

Monmouth (7-9, 5-2 NEC) rattled off a 7-0 run before juniors Jenna Schauder (Jackson, N.J.) and Jillian Maricondo (Levittown, N.Y.) scored back-to-back goals to make it 14-5. The Hawks tacked on a goal just before halftime to build a 15-5 lead at the break.

The Blackbirds came out flying in the second half with a 7-2 run. Freshman Ashley Prizio (Brookfield, Conn.) and Wienckowski opened the scoring with consecutive goals before a Monmouth goals sandwiched a score by sophomore Annie Kalata (Nesconset, N.Y.) to make it 17-8. LIU responded with four straight goals with Prizio contributing a pair around a score by Kalata. The run concluded with a goal by senior Allison Funk (Lumberton, N.J.) off a pass from Wienckowski to trim the MU lead to 17-12.

The Hawks put the contest out of reach with four unanswered goals, before Wienckowski could tack one on for LIU with 3:28 to play for the final margin.

Wienckowski led LIU with four goals and two assists, while Prizio added a hat trick and Kalata had two goals and an assist. Maricondo and junior Felicia Reynolds (Mount Laurel, N.J.) each had three ground balls. Schauder controlled a team-high five draw controls, while freshman Amber Meek (Woodbridge, Va.) made six saves in net for LIU.

Molly O'Brien and Shawn Evans each had four goals and an assist to lead Monmouth.

The Blackbirds host Bryant on Sunday, April 19, in their final home game of the season. Senior Allison Funk will be honored prior to the 5:00 p.m. contest on Senior Day.

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BROOKLYN- Monmouth University's women's lacrosse team (7-9, 5-2 NEC) earned a Northeast Conference Tournament berth with their 21-13 victory at Long Island (3-12, 2-6 NEC) on Friday afternoon.

The win clinched at least the fourth seed in next weekend's NEC Tournament, which will be held on the campus of the highest seed, currently tied between Sacred Heart, Mount St. Mary's and Quinnipiac. Monmouth has now qualified for the postseason tournament all 12 seasons in which it has been held.

Monmouth commanded a 15-5 first half lead, with Hawks accounting for the first five goals of the contest. Those goals came from five different Hawks, with junior Ali Pollock (Watervliet, N.Y./Shaker) getting the ball rolling just 2:33 into the game after taking a feed from Megan Brennan (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop Carroll). LIU's Claire Ranney broke the run in the 22nd minute, but Monmouth freshman Caitlin Kelly (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) answered right back with her second marker of the contest.

Over an eight minute span, Monmouth went on a 8-2 run, including seven straight goals. Brennan tallied three more goals while redshirt freshman Molly O'Brien (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) tallied three. LIU closed out the half with back to back goals but it was Hawk Brittney McLaughlin (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) who scored MU's 15th goal of the half with 1:20 remaining.

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2009-04-17