WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The top-seeded Monmouth University women's soccer team's season came to a close on Friday night in the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship semifinals, as the Hawks fell 2-1 to sixth-seeded Siena on Hesse Field.

 

Monmouth, which won its third straight MAAC Regular Season Championship, registered its 10th straight season with a double-digit win total, finishing the year with a 13-3-2 overall record. Siena, which is unbeaten in its last six matches, advances to the MAAC Championship Game on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. on Hesse Field.

 

"It is an unfortunate ending to a terrific season," stated head coach Krissy Turner, who guided Monmouth to its third straight MAAC Regular Season title. "However, defense wins championships and we gave up two goals which is not going to win a MAAC title."

 

The Saints got on the board in the third minute when Madison Vasquez knocked in her own rebound to give Siena an early 1-0 advantage, the midfielder's sixth goal of the year.

 

Siena doubled its edge in the 31st minute when Kristen Connors' cross found Allison Clark at the top of the box, where the senior headed the ball over Monmouth goalkeeper Sydney Lavan.

 

Monmouth responded in the 62nd minute when First Team All-MAAC forward Erica Murphy (Millstone Township, NJ/Pennington Prep) was taken down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick for the Hawks, which Murphy converted for her 16th goal of the year.

 

The Hawks, who outshot the Saints 8-3 in the second half, held a 14-7 edge in shots in the match.

 

Murphy finished her junior campaign for the Hawks with 35 points on 16 goals and three assists to lead the Blue & White.

 

Senior goalkeeper Liz Rogan made two saves for the Saints (11-6-3), who advance to their first league title game since 2010. Lavan made a pair of stops for the Hawks.

 

The loss marked the end of the Monmouth careers of seniors Danielle Axelrod, Brianne Boyle, Kristen Brett, Monique Goncalves, Colleen Howard and Cara Poole. This class accounted for 54 victories for the Hawks, three regular season championships and a conference title and NCAA appearance in 2013.

 

@MUWSoccer -- #FlyHawks