College Field Hockey
Monmouth University 4, Rider University 3
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

WEST LONG BRANCH—Despite two goals from sophomore Allison Baligian (Flemington/Hunterdon Central), the Rider University field hockey team gave up three, one-goal leads in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss at Monmouth University on Sunday afternoon at So Sweet A Cat Field.

“We played a great game offensively,” said head coach Lori Hussong.  “Once again, defensively, we did not hold up as we gave the lead away three times.”

Monmouth broke a 3-3 tie with 2:05 left, beating sophomore goalie Hannah Isaacs (Piscataway) to the near side left post.

Baligian gave Rider a 3-2 lead, taking a cross from junior Carlie Spaeder (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) on a penalty corner with 11:03 remaining in the game.

For Baligian, it was her team-leading 12th goal of the season and the third game in a row that she has found the back of the cage.

Monmouth tied the game 3-3 on a far post deflection just three minutes later.

Freshman Jessica Randazzo (Media, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) scored her fourth goal of the season, 2:08 into the second half to give the Broncs a 2-1 lead before Monmouth tied the game on a rebound in the 48th minute.

Randazzo has two goals and three assists in her last three games.

Baligian scored in the 14th minute, deflecting a shot from Randazzo, giving Rider a 1-0 lead before Monmouth scored on a far post deflection with 2:06 left in the opening half and the teams went into intermission tied 1-1.

Baligian has four goals in her last three games.

Rider held a 17-13 shot advantage and a 10-7 advantage on penalty corners.

Isaacs made three saves for Rider.  Christen Piersanti made six saves for the Hawks.

Rider defeated Monmouth 1-0 during the 2014 regular season before the Hawks avenged that defeat in the MAAC Championship game, the fourth time in five seasons that the teams met for a conference title.  Rider defeated the Hawks for the Northeast Conference championship in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Monmouth won for the ninth time in the 36-game series (3 ties).  Rider had won eight in a row in the series with the Hawks winning the last two straight.

Rider hosts Quinnipiac University on October 23 in a MAAC game at 4:30pm on Ben Cohen Field.

-RU-