WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University women scored twice early in the first half en route to a 2-0 victory over Canisius College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks (5-2-2, 2-0-0) are unbeaten in six straight matches (5-0-1). Canisius fell to 6-3-1, 0-2-1.

The hosts wasted no time in finding the back of the net as Alli DeLuca put Monmouth ahead in the second minute. Madie Gibson’s run down the left sideline started the play and her cross was tipped by Jazlyn Moya to DeLuca, who finished the chance.

Gibson doubled the Monmouth lead in the 18th minute when a pass across the Canisius penalty area by Sophie Centi found her foot. The redshirt sophomore buried the opportunity under the crossbar to make it 2-0.

Goalkeeper Amanda Knaub was rarely tested and made three saves, all after halftime.

“The first half was some of the best soccer we have played all year. We are proud of another shutout and the victory,” Monmouth head coach Krissy Turner said.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.