<p><strong>WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (August 17, 2012)</strong> - Monmouth University opened its 2012 women's soccer campaign with a 3-0 loss to Garden State rival Rutgers University, on The Great Lawn on Friday night. Following a scoreless first half, the Scarlet Knights, ranked in the preseason, notched three second half tallies for the road victory.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>"I thought for 45 minutes we showed great intensity and played well," stated head coach <strong>Krissy Turner</strong>. "In the second half we lacked the passion we needed to sustain a few attacks from them."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Rutgers' Jonelle Filigno, who had a pair of goals, put RU ahead in the 52nd minute, as a collapsing Monmouth defense was whistled for a foul in the box, which resulted in a penalty kick, which Filigno buried into the bottom left of the net, by MU goalkeeper sophomore <strong>Jocelyn McCoy (Crofton, Md./Archbishop Spalding)</strong>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Filigno added an insurance goal in the 84th minute on a low cross from Maria Gerew, as the forward beat a defender to the near post and flicked the ball into the bottom of the net to give RU a 2-0 advantage.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Monmouth was saddled with a second penalty kick call with 39 seconds remaining, as McCoy stopped Shannon Woeller&rsquo;s attempt, but Woeller was able to net the rebound.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Rutgers outshot the Hawks 11-6, as McCoy made three saves for Monmouth in the season opener. Jessica Janosz, who played the final 45 minutes in net for the Scarlet Knights, was credited with the win, making a pair of diving saves in a three minute span in the second half. Emmy Simpkins made one stop in the first half for RU.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Junior <strong>Monique Plescia (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Regional - Old Tappan)</strong> led the Hawks' attack with three shots, including a flick on with 25 minutes left that had to be smothered by Janosz, which maintained a one-goal lead for RU. Junior <strong>Tina Antzoulatos (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown)</strong>, senior <strong>Jennie Vartebedian (Blackwood, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) </strong>and freshman <strong>Brianne Boyle (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan)</strong> each added a shot for the Hawks.</p> <p><br /> Monmouth, which defeated Rutgers 1-0 in its last meeting with the Scarlet Knights in 2010, falls to 0-1 on the season, while RU, which was ranked No. 26 by College Soccer America, opens at 1-0.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Monmouth returns to action on Friday, August 24, when the Hawks host Saint Peter's on The Great Lawn at 7:00 p.m.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Follow Monmouth Athletics (@MUHawks) and Monmouth Women's Soccer (@MUWSoccer) on Twitter for all the latest updates and news.</p>