WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - The Monmouth University women's soccer team won its fifth straight match and increased its unbeaten streak to seven games behind its 2-1 victory over visiting Rider in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night. In the win, junior Erica Murphy (Millstone Township, NJ/Pennington Prep) notched her team-leading 11th goal and an assist, while sophomore Rachelle Ross (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) tallied two assists for the Blue & White.

 

The Hawks, who are now 6-0-1 at home on Hesse Field, stand at 5-0 in MAAC play and are 9-1-2 overall in 2015.

 

"It was a good night for the Hawks," stated head coach Krissy Turner, who registered her 199th career win at Monmouth. "We played well as a team and earned a hard-fought win."

 

Monmouth, which has scored first in all nine of its wins this season, opened the scoring in 11th minute when Ross dribbled to the endline and found Murphy in the box for her career-high 11th goal of the year, giving the forward 21 markers in her career.

 

The Hawks doubled their advantage in the 57th minute when Ross once again earned the endline, found Murphy in the box, who dropped a pass to a charging Alexis McTamney (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) for the one-timer and a 2-0 lead. McTamney, who ranks second on the squad with 16 points, registered her sixth goal of the year.

 

Rider, which had allowed just one goal in its last six matches entering the night, cut the deficit in half when Hollie Kelsh knocked in a cross from Ellie Smith in the 60th minute, making the score 2-1.

 

Monmouth, which outshot Rider 13-7, forced Broncs' goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard to make five saves, which included a pair of diving stops. Monmouth netminder Sydney Lavan (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) made two saves for the Hawks.

 

The last three meetings between these in-state rivals have been decided by a single goal.

 

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, October 10 when the Hawks travel to Quinnipiac in MAAC action at 1:00 p.m., in Hamden, Conn.

 

@MUWSoccer -- #FlyHawks