FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24, 2001

THREE HAWKS EARN NATIONAL GRIDIRON RECOGNITION

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University had three players recognized as Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette released its 2001 NCAA I-AA Mid-Major Pre-Season All-America team Friday afternoon.

Senior offensive lineman Matt Herdman was named to the first team and junior defensive lineman Chris Ammacher and junior linebacker Joe Sentipal were each named second teamers. The trio all earned preseason All-Northeast Conference two weeks ago.

Herdman earned first-team All-Northeast Conference honors in 2000 as he led an offensive line that opened holes for Matt Merklinger as he enjoyed one of the finest seasons ever for a Monmouth running back.

Last season, Ammacher served as a vital cog on a Monmouth defense that led the nation, yielding just 234.7 yards per game. He tallied 38 tackles, inlcuding 11 tackles for loss of yardage and two sacks on the season.

Sentipal was also a first-team All-Northeast Conference selection in 2000 after he terrorized the league’s quarterbacks with a school and NEC record 15.5 sacks. He also booked 88 tackles and a league-high 24 tackles for loss last fall.

Monmouth is coming off a 2000 campaign in which the Hawks posted a 5-6 record and finished fifth in the NEC with a 4-4 ledger in league play. After a 1-4 start, the Hawks rebounded to win four of six down the stretch. Monmouth led the nation in both total defense and rushing defense and averaged over five sacks a game for the season.

The Hawks open their season on Saturday, September 8 as Monmouth hosts NEC rival Wagner in a 1 p.m. contest at Kessler Field.