Monmouth goalie Melissa Katz stopped all but one for the Hawks field hockey team (0-4) as they lost an overtime match, 1-0, with the West Chester Rams (2-1) on Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field.
Katz stayed strong between the pipes in just over 75 minutes before Kristen Foore put away a mini break-away flick shot to the far post for the visiting Rams to seal the victory for West Chester. Just before regulation, Katz made a sliding save with her right leg with 3:50 left in the second half to push the game into overtime.
Katz wasn’t alone on the defense effort for the Hawks though, as the Blue and White’s defenders stuck together to stop 17 Rams corners on the afternoon.
“It’s a disappointing loss after we played a very strong first half,” said Hawks Head Coach Carli Figlio. “We have to learn how to play a full game and finish in the attacking zone.”
Despite being outshot 8-0, and losing the corner advantage 17-4, the Hawk’s defense stepped up to prove that the Blue and White’s team defense is remaining solid through each game. Junior defender Sarah Keppel made her first career stick defensive save in the second half to anchor another solid effort by the young defense.
With the loss, the Hawks drop to 0-4 on the season having lost three out of four games by one goal.
The Blue and White will be looking to put a notch in the win category this Saturday as they travel to Vermont to take on Maine University in the Catamount Classic Tournament at 2 p.m.