#7 Stonehill Rallies Again at Saint Michael’s, 4-3


Sophomore Shea Healy netted the deciding goal to lift the Skyhawks past Saint Michael's. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Giordano and Healy keep Skyhawks unbeaten with second half goals  

COLCHESTER, Vt. (September 13, 2014) – Stonehill College, ranked seventh in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II preseason poll, came from behind for the second straight contest with a 4-3 triumph at Saint Michael's College in non-conference field hockey action at Duffy Field today.

Stonehill got goals from four different players as it scored twice in each half to claim its third straight win to open the season. Junior Lauren Giordano (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) and sophomore Shea Healy (Greenfield, Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley) provided the second half goals for the Skyhawks as they overcame two Saint Michael's goals in the opening four minutes of the second half that had reversed a 2-1 Stonehill halftime lead. Junior All-American Erika Kelly (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) and classmate Elizabeth Thornton (Needham, Massachusetts/Needham) each added goals that provided the Skyhawks with their halftime lead.

Senior Elizabeth Genovese (Street, Maryland/North Harford) registered six saves in goal for Stonehill, which held a 22-15 advantage in shots for the contest to go with a 9-6 edge in penalty corners. Senior Sarah Healey (Canton, Massachusetts/Canton) posted ten stops in the Saint Michael's cage.

Three different players netted goals for Saint Michael's, with markers coming from senior Samantha Burns (North Creek, New York/Johnsburg Central), junior Morgan Mazanec (Shelburne, Massachusetts/Mohawk Trail Regional) and sophomore Carolyn Avery (Lexington, Massachusetts/Lexington).

Thornton put Stonehill on the board just 7:58 into the contest with her second goal of the


Junior All-American Erika Kelly scored her 51st career goal this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

season. Mazanec leveled the contest for Saint Michael's with a penalty stroke 21:37 into the half. Kelly gave the Skyhawks the halftime edge when she lifted a rebound into the upper left corner with 5:34 remaining in the frame. The goal is her team-leading fifth of the season and 51st career – moving her within two of Caitlin Gleason's, '08, career program record of 53.

Saint Michael's scored twice within a three minute span over the opening 3:46 of the second half to claim the lead. Burns' first goal of the season knotted the score for the second time when she buried a rebound just 48-seconds into the half. Avery's second marker of the season gave the Purple Knights the lead less than three minutes later with a rebound goal of her own.

Stonehill equalized under six minutes later when Giordano scored off a pass from senior Nicole Ciccia (Monroe, Connecticut/Lauralton Hall) 9:18 into the second half for her fourth goal of the season. Healy provided the deciding goal with her first marker of the season on a hit from the top of the circle with 13:33 left in regulation.

Stonehill (3-0, 0-0 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits 10th-ranked Bentley University for a non-league clash at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks don't return home until Tuesday, September 30, to host Saint Anselm College at 7 p.m. Saint Michael's (1-2, 0-0 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University next Friday at 4 p.m.

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