FIELD HOCKEY HOLDS OFF VERMONT, 3-1

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ– Georgia Garden Bachopscored twice for the second straight game, while Kelly Hanna chipped in three points on a goal and an assist as the Monmouth University field hockey team defeated future America East Conference foe, Vermont, 3-1, Friday afternoon. Subbing onto the field in the 28th minute, Hanna intercepted a pass and sprung a two-on-one. The senior fired a hard cross to the stick of Garden Bachop who settled the ball, pushed it away from the attacking goalkeeper and ripped a shot into the netting to give the Hawks (4-5) a 1-0 advantage it would take into the break. The Hawks added to their lead nearly six minutes into the second half as freshman Lotte Boom came up with a tackle in the defensive end and made a run with Meg de Lange down the sideline. The rookie connected with Hanna near the top of the circle where she took a touch and fired a reverse into the low right corner of the cage. Vermont (3-5) got on the board in the 50th minute when Bailey Matthews converted a two-on-one, but the Hawks responded less than a minute later when senior Elyssa Okkensent a feed to the opposite post where Garden Bachop batted in her second of the afternoon to put the Hawks up by two for good. NOTES & QUOTES "I thought we held possession a lot better today, outletting through the backs and the midfield which generated a lot of attack. It was really nice to see a future America East opponent on our home field and we look forward to another tough non-conference game on Sunday against Bucknell before opening up MAAC play next week."– Head Coach Carli Figlio - The Hawks have won 24 straight regular season games on their home turf dating back to the 2015 season. - MU has won three straight over the Catamounts and improves to 3-1 all-time in the series that began in 2008. - Today's game was the two side's first meeting since 2011. Monmouth and Vermont will meet yearly with the Hawks joining the America East in field hockey next season. - Georgia Garden Bachop registered two goals for the second-straight game, her fourth multi-goal game of her career. - Garden Bachop now has 20 career goals to tie teammate Josephine van der Hoop and Kimmy Baligian (09-12) for eighth all-time. - Hanna scored for the second consecutive game. The senior now has 65 points in a Monmouth uniform. - Freshman Lotte Boom registered her first career point with an assist. - Senior Elyssa Okken dished out her second helper of the season. - Sophomore goalkeeper Gabi Millan made a save in the victory. NUMBERS CRUNCH - Monmouth outshot the Catamounts 12-5 with seven of its shot reaching target. - Each team earned two attacking corners, all coming in the second half. NEXT UP Monmouth wraps up the three-game homestand on Sunday when it hosts Bucknell on So Sweet A Cat, beginning at 1 p.m.

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