West Long Branch, NJ -- Freshman forward ELISA GONCALVES (South Windsor, CT/South Windsor), who led the Northeast Conference in scoring during the regular-season, knocked in a goal in the 59th minute to lift third-seeded Quinnipiac College (16-4) to a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Monmouth University (10-6-2) this afternoon at Kessler Field.

The victory by Quinnipiac avenged a 2-1 loss to Monmouth a week ago (October 22nd) and sends the Braves into their first-ever conference championship game. Quinnipiac will meet fourth-seeded Long Island University, which advanced by knocking off two-time defending champion and top seed Central Connecticut, 1-0. The winner of the NEC Tournament will face the Southland Conference champion in an NCAA Play-In game set for November 6th.

Goncalves snapped a scoreless tie with 31:07 to play in the second half as she recorded her 18th goal of the season. ALISON JAQUITH (Spencer, MA/David Prouty) collected a loose ball and moved down the right side before lofting a crossing pass to Goncavles, who flicked the ball into top right-hand portion of the goal past Hawks goalkeeper KRISTIN SPOHN (Parisppany, NJ/Parsippany).

Monmouth, which was outshot in the game, 16-7, had one final opportunity late in the match as TRICIA SELLITTO (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) put a shot on goal. QC keeper JENNA LAWLESS (W. Springfield, MA/W. Springfield) and a defender collided on the play allowing the ball to sit freely in front of the goal mouth. The Hawks’ LAUREN PACHUCKI (Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills) raced for the loose ball, but Lawless recovered in time for the save.

Lawless made three saves in notching her fourth shutout of the season.

                            1       2               Final
Quinnipiac            0       1               1
Monmouth           0        0               0

Records:  Monmouth (10-6-2),  Quinnipiac (16-4)
Goals:  QC -- Elisa Goncalves (Alison Jaquith) @ 58:53
Goalkeepers: QC (Jenna Lawless, 3 saves) ,  MU (Kristin Spohn, 1 save)
Shots on Goal: QC (16), MU (7)
Corner kicks:  QC (5), MU (3)
Fouls: QC (9), MU (11)
Red Cards:  None
Attendance:  123