WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Highlighted by a goal and three assists from freshman Alexis McTamney (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional), a goal and two assists from senior Dana Costello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and a pair of scores from senior Monique Plescia (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Regional-Old Tappan), the Monmouth University women's soccer team posted a 6-0 victory over Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Wednesday night on The Great Lawn.

 

"Offensively we were running on all cylinders tonight," stated head coach Krissy Turner, whose Hawks last scored six goals in a game on September 25, 2011 versus NJIT. "I have been very pleased with how many chances we have been creating, but obviously the final piece was missing. Tonight, we demonstrated we have the ability to put it all together. Our attack is well balanced and we will need that to continue in order to continue to have success in the MAAC."

 

Monmouth, now 9-1 overall and 3-0 in MAAC play, got on the board in the fifth minute when Plescia pounded in a McTamney shot that was originally saved by Manhattan goalkeeper Maria Sanzari. In the 12th minute, Costello played a ball back to Julie Spracklin (Eastampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) in the box and the freshman drilled a shot into the netting for the 2-0 lead.

 

In the 17th minute, McTamney sent a low pass into the area, which Costello flicked in with her heel for her third tally of the season, before McTamney assisted on Plescia's second score of the match, and fourth of the season, in the 29th minute, as MU held a 4-0 lead at the half.

 

Monmouth last led 4-0 at halftime of a match on November 1, 2009 versus Fairleigh Dickinson, a game in which the Hawks won 6-0.

 

McTamney netted her team-leading seventh goal of the season just 3:08 into the second stanza, as the rookie fired a shot from 20 yards out along the turf, which found the far netting.

 

The Blue & White grabbed a 6-0 lead in the 71st minute when junior back Alexa Freguletti (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah) nodded in a corner kick service from Costello, for her third goal of the year.

 

Turner added, "The conference season is 10 games. We are in a good position right now with three wins. However, we have to maintain our ability to get results at home as well as points on the road. There are no guarantees, which is why our mindset since early August has been to focus on getting better each day."

 

Monmouth held a 28-5 edge in shots, forcing Sanzari to make eight saves for the Jaspers (3-8-1, 0-3-1 MAAC). The Hawks also had a 7-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

 

En route to the team's seventh shutout of the season, fifth-year senior Ashley Lewis (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Boro) made one save in net in 63:13 minutes, while junior Jocelyn McCoy (Crofton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) made a stop in 26:47 to preserve the clean sheet for the Hawks.

 

Monmouth, now 6-0 at home, returns to action on Saturday night when the Hawks host Fairfield University in MAAC play on The Great Lawn at 7:00 p.m.

 

@MUWSoccer -- #FlyHawks