FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 12, 2000

MONMOUTH FIELD HOCKEY CLINCHES NORTHEAST CONFERENCE TITLE

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University field hockey squad won its first-ever Northeast Conference regular-season title with a 2-0 victory over Rider University, Thursday afternoon in Lawrenceville, N.J.

Monmouth (9-7, 8-1 Northeast Conference) earned the right to host the league’s four-team tournament on October 28-29. The champion of the NEC tournament will play the champion of the America East tournament with the winner earning a berth in the NCAA tournament.

After a scoreless first half, Monmouth quickly gained the momentum coming out of the intermission as Kellie Nurko (Robbinsville, N.J./Allentown) scored an unassisted goal 2:38 into the second stanza to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. The goal was Nurko’s ninth of the season and her 17th career goal.

Sophomore Megan Kenney (Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central) added an insurance goal eight minutes later as the Hawks took advantage of a penalty corner opportunity. Leanne Wright (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick), the inserter on the play, served up a pass to Maggie Bomenblit (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North), the stick-stop, who killed the ball perfectly for Kenney.

Monmouth controlled the game most of the way and outshot the Broncs 11-7 in the game. The Hawks also had a 13-3 advantage in penalty corner opportunities.

Hawks goalkeeper Jamie Urbanowicz (Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Middletown South) earned her third shutout of the season, with four saves in the game.

Monmouth continues its season on Wednesday, October 18 as it hosts Fairfield in a 3:30 p.m. contest at the MU Field Hockey Park.

SCORING SUMMARY

Rider (8-8, 5-4 Northeast)   0 0 - 0
Monmouth (9-7, 8-1 Northeast)  0 2 - 2

MU 2 32:22 Kellie Nurko (unassisted)
MU 2 24:56 Megan Kenney (Leanne Wright, Maggie Bomenblit)

Shots: RU – 7, MU – 11.
Saves: RU – Cushindo – 6, MU – Urbanowicz – 4.
Penalty Corners: RU - 3, MU – 13.