FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2000

CHICO NETS HAT TRICK IN MONMOUTH FIELD HOCKEY VICTORY

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Gina Chico (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) registered her first career hat trick as she led Monmouth University to a 4-3 victory over Quinnipiac University in Northeast Conference field hockey action Sunday afternoon.

Chico added three goals to her school and league single-season record tally that is now at 16 goals as the two squads battled for first place in the NEC.

Monmouth (8-7, 7-1 Northeast Conference) drew first blood 10 minutes into the contest as the Hawks took advantage of their first penalty corner opportunity. Kristin Haberthur (Newton, N.J./Newton), the inserter on the play, served up a pass to Kelly Monahan (Belford, N.J./Middletown North), the stick top, who killed the ball perfectly for Chico. The goal gave Chico 14 for the season, eclipsing the old NEC record of 13 set by Quinnpiac’s Catie Canetti (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) last season.

The Hawks pushed the lead to 2-0 with 15:39 left in the first half as Kellie Nurko (Robbinsville, N.J./Allentown) scored on an assist from Megan Kenney (Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central) after Monmouth’s initial penalty corner opportunity was snuffed out.

Quinnipiac (5-7, 4-3 NEC) responded quickly with its first goal just over a minute later. Sarah Riley (Hampstead, N.J./Pinkerton Academy) won a midfield scrum and shot down the right side of the pitch. After weaving through numerous Hawks’ defenders, Riley drilled a shot to the left post and beat Monmouth’s goalie to cut the margin to 2-1 with 14:25 left in the half.

Chico increased Monmouth’s edge to 3-1 as she scored on another penalty corner opportunity. Jennifer Marianni (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) served as the inserter on the play and Monahan made another clean stick-stop to set up Chico’s bullet with 8:19 left until intermission.

The Braves trimmed the lead to 3-2 with just over four minutes left in the half as Quinnipiac took advantage of a penalty corner opportunity. Lisa Scavotto (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) inserted the ball to Julie Smith (Brewster, Mass./Nauset Regional) who set up a rocket by Kristin Crosby (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich). Crosby’s shot was heading wide of the cage, but Canetti was able to redirect the shot into the goal.

Monmouth’s final goal came on a 2-on-2 fast break by Chico and Nurko. After Nurko beat the Braves’ defender she fed Chico for a chip shot past the Quinnipiac goalie to give the Hawks a 4-2 edge with 22:51 left in the game.

The Braves clipped the margin to 4-3 with 10:17 left in the game as Erin Begley (Pocono Lake, Pa./Pocono Mountain) raced down the right side and served a cross into mass of humanity where the ball found Canetti’s stick. Her shot went through the goaltender’s legs for the final tally of the game.

Monmouth returns to action Thursday as it travels to Lawrenceville, N.J., for a 3:30 p.m. contest vs. Rider.

SCORING SUMMARY

Quinnipiac (5-7, 4-3 Northeast)  2 1 - 3
Monmouth (8-7, 7-1 Northeast)    3 1 - 4

MU 1 25:12 Gina Chico (Kristen Haberthur, Kelly Monahan)
MU 1 15:39 Kellie Nurko (Megan Kenney)
QU 1 14:25 Sarah Riley (unassisted)
MU 1 8:19 Gina Chico (Jennifer Marianni, Kelly Monahan)
QU 1 4:09 Catie Canetti (Kristin Crosby)
MU 2 22:51 Gina Chico (Kellie Nurko)
QU 2 10:17 Catie Canetti (Erin Begley)

Shots: QU – 13, MU – 19.
Saves: QU – Mathers – 4, MU – Urbanowicz – 3.
Penalty Corners: QU – 9, MU – 6.