Senior All-American Jackie Ladino registered a goal and assist to lead Stonehill back from a one goal deficit on its way to a ninth-straight win tonight. |
#5 Stonehill Rallies Past American International, 3-1
Ladino collects goal and assist as Skyhawks win ninth straight
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 30, 2009) - Stonehill College, ranked fifth in this week's Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, returned from a week off to notch its ninth straight win with a 3-1 decision over American International College at John Homer Miller Field tonight.
Senior All-American Jackie Ladino (North Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) led Stonehill with a goal and assist, while senior Claire Hourihan (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) and sophomore Kathryn Nelson (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) each netted goals for the Skyhawks.
Sophomore Linsey Fernandes (Ajax, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) scored for American International, giving the Yellow Jackets a lead 5:24 into the second half after the two teams played a scoreless opening stanza.
Senior Claire Hourihan's game-winning goal brought her within a point of reaching the 100 career point plateau. |
Junior goalkeeper Courtney Osier (South Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) finished with one save for Stonehill, while sophomore Kim Steiner (Little Falls, N.Y./Little Falls) stopped 11 shots in goal for American International. The Skyhawks finished with a 26-6 advantage in shots, taking 20 penalty corners to four for the Yellow Jackets.
Neither team scored in a first half in which Stonehill peppered the goal with 17 shots, including eight on goal which were stopped by Steiner. American International opened the scoring with Fernandes' second goal of the season off a rebound 5:24 into the second.
Stonehill used the goal as the impetus after the week off as Nelson equalized just 53-seconds later with her sixth goal of the season. Hourihan netted what proved to be the game winner less than six minutes later off a feed from Ladino at the 47:06-mark. Ladino added an insurance goal with 5:49 left in regulation.
Hourihan's team-leading 12th goal of the season gives her 41 for her career at Stonehill - just one shy of former teammate Aly Boulis (2004-2007) for second all-time in program history. Hourihan has also totaled 99 career points after her marker tonight.
Stonehill (9-2, 3-0 NE-10) is back in action this Saturday when it visits Adelphi University at 2 p.m. The Skyhawks next home game is Friday, October 9, when it hosts Saint Anselm College at 4 p.m. American International (3-8, 2-4 NE-10) hosts Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
