Madie Gibson drew a penalty, but could not convert the ensuing kick. (Photo courtesy of Monmouth SID)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Despite enjoying a player advantage the final 22 minutes, the Monmouth University women fell to 17th-ranked North Carolina State, 1-0, at Hesse Field on the Great Lawn Friday night.

The game was Monmouth’s first home game in program history against a ranked opponent and was part of the soccer doubleheader that followed the men’s 1-0 loss to No. 23 West Virginia.

Monmouth had its share of opportunities in the game, including a penalty kick attempt that was saved early in the second half, and played the final 22 minutes of the match with a player advantage following an NC State red card.

Madie Gibson drew a penalty in the 47th minute when she got behind her defender and was taken down inside the NC State area. Her penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper Jessica Berlin.

The visitors controlled the play from that point, until Tziarra King’s red card put the Hawks up a man. Monmouth seized control, but a long diagonal ball found Kristina Schuster, who got behind the Monmouth back line and scored the decisive goal.

“A great team effort and an awesome environment for our first ever game at home against a ranked opponent. We competed at a high level, but fell short of getting the result,” 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.