Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Brynn Adams took a touch pass from Melissa LeNoir on the left post and knocked her shot into the back of the cage in the 81st minute to lift host West Chester to a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over Monmouth in a non-conference field hockey match at Vonnie Gros Field on a bright sunny Sunday afternoon.
West Chester (4-0) remains undefeated on the season as a result of Adams’ heroics and is off to the school’s best start in 22 years. Monmouth (3-1) dropped its first contest of the year, playing their second overtime tilt in as many days after beating Penn, 2-1, in extra time Saturday.
LeNoir, the heralded freshman forward out of Delaware, scored a goal and picked up an assist. She continues to carry the hot stick for the Golden Rams in the early going. She leads the team with six goals and 15 points. Adams also contributed a goal and an assist in the win Sunday.
Senior goalkeeper Joelle Zarefoss made eight saves, including a blocker stop on a penalty stroke in the 47th minute that preserved a 2-1 advantage for the Golden Rams. That proved vital when Michelle Pieczynski tied things up for Monmouth in the 69th minute.
West Chester controlled the play for much of the second half and overtime, holding a 21-10 advantage in shots over that period of time. Monmouth, playing their second OT game in as many days, began to show the effects of all the extra field hockey. The Rams outshot the Hawks 10-1 in overtime.
Melissa Katz made 14 saves in the cage for Monmouth, including a diving blocker save of a penalty stroke by Nicole Fiorilla (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) in overtime.
Leah Angstadt put the hosts on top first in the 13th minute, converting a penalty corner from Adams and Beth Wong. Monmouth’s Enza Mazza then beat Zarefoss in the 23rd minute off a penalty corner from Meredith Violi.
LeNoir then put the Golden Rams on top when she poked the ball past Monmouth’s last defender and broke in all alone on Katz.
West Chester heads into the Vonnie Gros Classic this weekend with an unblemished record. It marks the first time in the four years of the tournament that the host Rams enter without a loss. No. 4 North Carolina, Villanova and Appalachian State will descend upon West Chester’s south campus for this year’s event.
Festivities kick off on Friday with North Carolina taking on Villanova at 4 p.m., followed by West Chester vs. Appalachian State at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the Golden Rams will take on the Tar Heels at 5 p.m. with the Wildcats taking on the Mountaineers at 7:30 p.m.
