Lawrenceville, NJ – The Rider University field hockey team fell on the road to Monmouth, 5-0, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon.

In their final regular season contest of 2017, the Broncs (8-10) suffered their second setback in a row against the Hawks (14-3, 5-1 MAAC). The two teams won't have to wait long for a rematch as Monmouth earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament and the Broncs will be the fourth seed.  

The hosts scored all five of their tallies during the first half and Julie Laszlo got the Hawks on the board with her seventh marker of the season just over five minutes into the game. Laszlo's strike came off a penalty corner and proved to be the game-winner.

Monmouth would score three more goals off penalty corners in the first half before Kelly Hanna capped the scoring with her second tally of the day.

Freshman Lena Vandam (Brasschaat, Belgium) was solid for Rider in the cage. She turned aside five shots in a losing effort.

Notes & Quotes
"Monmouth came out and took it hard to us," Rider Head Coach Lori Hussong said. "They showed why they were ranked in the top-25 at times this season. They play a beautiful passing game and their offensive corner execution was near perfect today."

- Freshmen Lena Vandam and Brittany Romanczuk were honored by the MAAC with weekly awards as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Vandam was tabbed as the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time and Romanczuk was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week for the first time in her young career.
- With Monmouth's victory against Bryant on Friday, the Broncs clinched a berth in the MAAC Tournament. It marks the 18th straight season in which Rider has participated in postseason play.
- This was the first conference game in which the Broncs have allowed more than one goal.
- Two of Rider's three MAAC losses have come on the road this year.
- Monmouth held a 14-2 advantage in shots. 11 of the Hawks shots were on target.
- The Broncs took three penalty corners compared to nine for Monmouth.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Melissa Cunningham had a defensive save for the Broncs. She now leads the team with five defensive saves this season. She has recorded a defensive save in four consecutive games.
- Vandam has made five or more saves in a game seven times this year, including three games in a row.
- Tess Coorens and Brittany Romanczuk each had one shot apiece for the Broncs.