WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Lafayette field hockey team dropped its first road contest of the 2016 season after falling to Monmouth 3-0 on Friday afternoon.

It was a slow start to the game for both teams as they each tried to get into their rhythm on the field. Lafayette (1-1) was first to put a shot on goal once freshman Rosa Jonckheer sent the ball towards the Hawks' cage, but it was denied by the Monmouth keeper, Christen Piersanti, who had seven saves in the contest.

In the 26th minute, the Hawks controlled the ball in the Leopards' circle and a shot was fired and blocked. However, Monmouth (3-0) maintained possession and Julie Laszlo took aim and fired, but it was saved by Katelyn Arnold. As the ball trickled back out into the circle, Casey Hanna got the rebound and placed a shot on goal, but it too was sent away by Arnold.

Two minutes later, the Hawks had the ball again and this time they capitalized on a scoring opportunity once the ball was played to Mallory Kusakavitch and she scored off of an assist from Georgia Garden Bachop.

The Hawks expanded their lead to two in the 32nd minute after a penalty corner was placed into the circle and shot in by Alyssa Ercolino off of a deflection by Laszlo.

In the closing minutes of the half, the Leopards applied pressure at the Hawks' cage and with no time remaining, Lafayette was awarded a penalty corner. The ball found its way to Amanda Magadan's stick and she took a shot, but it was saved by Piersanti.

Lafayette was persistent and continued to get scoring opportunities on penalty corners in the second half. The Leopards took six corners in the first 17 minutes of the second stanza, however, two shots from Magadan and one from freshman Lisa van der Geest were denied.

Monmouth's lead grew to three in the 53rd minute on a penalty stroke goal by Meg Donahue. The Leopards looked to respond and four minutes later Rosie Shanks placed a shot on goal, but Piersanti turned it away.

Van der Geest got a shot off at the Monmouth cage in the 66th minute and as it was about to go in, Laszlo deflected it away for the defensive save.

Lafayette outshot Monmouth 11-8 on the afternoon and the Leopards took 15 corners, compared to three by the Hawks.

"We created a lot of opportunities, particularly in the second half, but unfortunately we didn't capitalize on them when we needed to," head coach Jennifer Stone stated. "We are looking forward to getting back to Rappolt Field to face Longwood on Sunday."

The Leopards will return to Rappolt Field for a non-conference game against Longwood scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m.