QU Women's Lacrosse Rallies Back, But Monmouth Prevails 12-8

Saturday, March 25

Reese Stadium - New Haven, CT

5:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

1-8, 0-1MAAC

Monmouth

3-7, 1-0MAAC

Monmouth

Quinnipiac

QU Women's Lacrosse Rallies Back, But Monmouth Prevails 12-8

3/25/2017 7:54:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

By: QU Sports Information

HAMDEN, Conn. - The Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team came all the way back from a 5-1 first-half deficit to take an 8-7 lead with 19:15 to play, but Monmouth finished the game on a 5-0 run to take a 12-8 win over the Bobcats in the MAAC opener for both teams.

With the win, Monmouth improves to 3-7 overall, while picking up its sixth straight win in the series with the Bobcats after losing five straight from 2009-2012. Quinnipiac, meanwhile, slips to 1-8 on the year with the loss.

After trailing 6-3 at the break, Quinnipiac used a 4-0 run in the second half to take an 8-7 lead. Junior Caitlin Riedell (Garden City, N.Yl) started the run with her first goal of the season off a feed from sophomore All9son Kuhn (Kingsville, Md.) with 24:58 to play. Just 1:50 later, sophomore Julia Corrice (Sparta, N.J.) took advantage of a Monmouth turnover in its own defensive end, picking up a ground ball and slotting home an unassisted goal to close Monmouth's lead to 7-6.

After the Hawks called a timeout, the Bobcats kept the momentum going as freshman Brianna Fitzgerald (Norwalk, Conn.) sprinted up the middle of the field and scored to get the Bobcats back even at 7-7 with 19:51 to go. Just 36 seconds later, Kuhn gave Quinnipiac its first lead of the game on a free position shot, putting the Bobcats in front 8-7.

Monmouth answered back quickly with a transition goal from Katie Ryan with 17:20 to go and the score remained deadlocked at 8-8 for almost 10 minutes, as both teams had several quality chances to take the lead back. Finally, the Hawks broke through with 8:40 left as Olivia Higson scored her third of the game. Monmouth won the ensuing draw and scored again as Alexa Smith found the net with 8:13 to go, and after Quinnipiac was issued a yellow card, Alex Stambaugh stretched the lead to 11-8 with 6:33 left. Ryan added her second goal with 28 seconds left to close out the scoring.

The Bobcats fell behind 4-0 just 5:56 into the game before settling down and finding their footing. Sophomore midfielder Ellie Swenson (Ipswich, Mass.) scored on a Kuhn feed to break the ice at the 23:30 mark, and after Monmouth answered 10 minutes later, the Bobcats scored back-to-back goals from freshman Ashley Bobinski (Kinnelon, N.J.) and senior Alex Hleciak (Lumberton, N.J.) to close within 5-3. Allison Turtutto closed out the first half with a goal for Monmouth, while Hlesciak started off the second half with her second goal for Quinnipiac 37 seconds after halftime.

Each team finished with 29 shot attempts and each goalie had 12 saves, with junior Kyle Larkin (Brightwaters, N.Y.) coming up big in the second half to deny the Hawks on the doorstep on two occasions. Riley Brager had 12 saves for Monmouth. Hlesciak was the only Bobcat with multiple goals, while Kuhn had a goal and two assists. Junior Kiera Kelly (West Islip, N.Y. - pictured) led the defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers.

Quinnipiac is back in action next Saturday, when it travels to Manhattan for a 10 a.m. contest.