Sept. 28, 2007

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Monmouth scored twice in the first half and then got three more goals in the second half, extending its unbeaten streak to four with a 5-0 decision over visiting NJIT in women's soccer Friday afternoon.

Long established as one of New Jersey's strongest women's soccer programs, the Hawks broke a scoreless tie in the 20th minute and then went ahead, 2-0, thanks to a penalty kick 3:45 before halftime.

Monmouth added three second-half goals--two for junior Joni DeMoor--in a win that raised the Hawks season record to 4-2-3.

Monmouth, with 20 letterwinners and 10 starters back from last season's 14-4-2 team, got off to a deceptive 1-2-2 start that included a 1-0 road loss to nationally-ranked Rutgers and a 0-0 tie against Seton Hall in back-to-back mid-September matches.

In addition to DeMoor, the Hawks got single goals from Brittani Heller, Shannon Rogers on the penalty kick and Mary Wilks.

Heller scored at 19:21, assisted by Amy Hoyer and Rogers converted the pk in the 42nd minute.

DeMoor's goals came in the 49th minute and then in 71st minute, before Wilks' goal capped the scoring at 82:32. Andrea Lopez assisted on DeMoor's first tally and Danielle Rosanova assisted on the final score, finding Wilks on a corner kick.

Three Highlander players--freshmen Michelle Borth and Kyrsten Howell-Harries and junior Brian Morales--put shots on goal.

Monmouth used two goalkeepers in the shutout. Starter Liz Fierro played the first 60:23 and made one save, while Katie Buffa stopped two shots over the last 29:37.

NJIT's Sadie Mele went the distance and made five saves.

The Highlanders will take one day off from competition before taking the short trip to Staten Island, NY, and a noon match on Sunday at Wagner.