FAIRFIELD, CONN. - The Monmouth University women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision at Sacred Heart University on Friday night in Northeast Conference action. Monmouth, which has clinched a berth in the upcoming league postseason, led 1-0 at the half before surrendering two second-half goals in the road defeat.

With the loss, Monmouth falls to 10-7 overall and 6-3 in conference play, while Sacred Heart improves to 9-5-3 overall and 5-3-1 in league action.

"We need to have more of a sense of urgency and understand the importance of protecting a lead in a match if we are to be a championship contender," said head coach Krissy Turner, following the result on Campus Field.

Despite being outshot 16-2 in the first half, the Hawks took a 1-0 lead just before the break when junior Stacy Kadell deposited freshman Alexa Freguletti's cross into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.

Sacred Heart knotted the game, and claimed the lead within the opening five minutes of the second half, recording goals within a minute of each other.

In the 49th minute, SHU tied the match when Jen Mulvey tallied a marker off an assist from Samantha Kee. Exactly a minute later, the Pioneers notched the game-winner on a goal by Kee, off an assist from Jillian Picinich at 49:40.

Sacred Heart outshot the Hawks 23-6 in the match, forcing freshman goalkeeper Jocelyn McCoy to make a career-high 10 saves in goal for the Hawks. SHU's Sydney Judkins made three saves for the Pioneers, who are now 5-0-1 at home.

Monmouth, which will compete in its 14th Northeast Conference Tournament next weekend, concludes its 2011 regular season at in-state rival Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, October 30, at noon.

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