FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2000

HAWKS OFFENSE CONTINUES RECORD PACE IN VICTORY OVER RIDER

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University’s field hockey team enjoyed another explosive performance from its offense to post a 5-1 victory over Rider at the MU Field Hockey Park on Wednesday afternoon. The victory put Monmouth in sole possession of first place in the Northeast Conference.

Monmouth (4-4, 3-0 NEC) set a team record for most goals in consecutive games with 11 thanks to Wednesday’s performance and a 6-0 blanking of Maryland-Baltimore County last Sunday. Sophomore Gina Chico (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) equaled the Hawks’ single-season goal record with her eighth tally of the year. Her goal count equals Kellie Nurko’s (Robbinsville, N.J./Allentown) eight-goal performance in 1999.

After the teams played on even keel for the first 20 minutes, Nurko sparked the Monmouth arsenal with a pair of unassisted goals with 14:28 and 9:00 left in the first half to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

Tara Hartman (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) pushed the margin to 3-0 as she wove through the Rider (4-5, 2-1 NEC) defense and fired a shot past the Broncs’ goaltender.

Chico registered her record-tying goal 6:33 into the second half on a picture-perfect crossing pass from Nurko.

Rider scored its only goal of the contest on a penalty stroke effort as Christine Caberle (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) put the ball past Hawk goalie Jamie Urbanowicz (Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Middletown South) on the left side with 10:20 left in the game.

With just 2:02 remaining in the contest, captain Beth Watts (Unionville, Pa./Unionville) waltzed through the Broncs’ defense and registered the final goal of the game.

Urbanowicz went the distance for the Hawks in goal to pick up the victory.

Monmouth returns to action Saturday as they travel to Hamden, Conn., for a rematch of last season’s NEC championship game vs. Quinnipiac.

SCORING SUMMARY

Rider (4-5, 2-1 NEC)     0 1 - 1
Monmouth (4-4, 3-0 NEC)  3 2 - 5

MU 1 14:28 Kellie Nurko
MU 1 9:00 Nurko
MU 1 4:56 Tara Hartman
MU 2 28:27 Gina Chico (Nurko)
RU 2 10:20 Christine Cabarle (penalty stroke)
MU 2 2:02 Beth Watts

Shots: RU – 8, MU – 18
Saves: RU – Coshinotto – 10,  MU Urbanowicz – 2
Penalty Corners: RU – 6, MU –19