Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University field hockey team was shutout by Monmouth, 2-0, in a MAAC contest at Campus Field on Sunday afternoon.
After an early Mary Altepeter save on a penalty corner shot by Alyssa Ercolino, the Pioneers (7-7, 1-1 MAAC) had the first major opportunity of the game in the tenth minute. After SHU was awarded a penalty stroke, Sarah Bergman stepped up to take the attempt and hit the post. For the next 15 minutes, neither team would have a shot on goal until a Rachel Claroni attempt was saved by Monmouth goalkeeper Christen Piersanti in the 26th minute. The shot was Sacred Heart's only attempt on net in the first half. Three minutes later, Altepeter went out to the edge of the circle to halt a Monmouth breakaway.
With time winding down in the first period, the Hawks (8-7, 1-1 MAAC) finally broke through for the first goal of the game in the 33rd minute. Trish O'Dwyer got to the end line and sent a cross in front of net. Meg Donahue got her stick on it and sent it into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage heading into the half.
Eight minutes into the second period, Monmouth added to their lead with another goal by Donahue from O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer received the ball in the middle of the circle and was able to aim her pass around Altepeter to find Donahue in front of net to make the score 2-0.
Sacred Heart's best opportunities to cut into the deficit were created by Christine Mace. With fifteen minutes remaining, Mace dribbled down the sideline and got all the way to net before eventually having the ball poked away by Piersanti. She then had SHU's only shot on net in the second half in the 68th minute, only to be denied by Piersanti again.
Altepeter saved seven shots in the second half to keep the score at 2-0. She recorded nine saves for the game. Piersanti was only forced to make two saves in the victory. After a 6-5 advantage in shots for the Hawks in the first half, Monmouth outshot the Pioneers 14-3 in the second period for a 20-8 advantage for the game. The Hawks also had a 17-8 advantage in penalty corners after Sacred Heart held the edge in the first half, 5-3.
SHU will look to bounce back on Friday as they travel to Siena for a 3 pm MAAC contest. The Pioneers will be back at Campus Field on Sunday as they host Rider at 3 pm. Sacred Heart will honor its three seniors Kylee Lowndes, Liz Bergman, and Sarah Bergman before the game
