Junior All-American Erika Kelly scored the opening goal of the contest for her third gamewinner of the season. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Kelly moves within a point of program's all-time scoring record 

EASTON, Mass. (October 29, 2014) –  Stonehill College, ranked fourth in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, held on for a 2-1 victory over 9^th-ranked Saint Michael's College in a key Northeast-10 Conference field hockey matchup at Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon.

Stonehill got first half goals from a duo of All-Americans in senior Emily Sideris (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) and junior Erika Kelly (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown), while senior Elizabeth Genovese (Street, Maryland/North Harford) registered four second half saves to preserve the win. The Skyhawks dominated shots to a 33-10 margin and held a 12-5 advantage for penalty corners in the win. Sophomore Sarah Morse (Westminster, Massachusetts/Oakmont Regional) dished out her team-leading seventh assist of the season for the Skyhawks.

Kelly's goal give her 131 career points on a program-record 61 goals and nine assists to close within a point of Stonehill's career scoring record of 132 points set by Caitlin Gleason '08. Kelly ranks ninth in Northeast-10 history for career scoring and seventh in career goals.

Senior Jackie Chisholm (New Braintree, Massachusetts/Quabbin Regional) kept Saint Michael's in the game with a career-high 22 saves, including 14 in the second half, to hold Stonehill at two goals and give the Purple Knights a chance to rally. Senior Cassaundra Davis (Newburyport, Massachusetts/Newburyport) scored the lone Purple Knights goal in the second half.

Senior All-American Emily Sideris put the Skyhawks up 2-0 late in the first half. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Kelly put Stonehill in front with her team-leading 15^th goal of the season when she knocked in her own rebound at the left post 16:46 into the game. Sideris doubled the Skyhawks lead with 3:38 remaining in the first half when she blasted a shot past Chisholm from the upper left side of the arc off a corner pass by Morse for her fifth goal of the year.

Saint Michael's drew within a goal with 5:20 left in regulation when Davis scored her 12^th of the season off a pass from the top of the arc on the left side by senior Meghan Ahearn (Mashpee, Massachusetts/Mashpee) following a penalty corner by junior Mackenzie Hudson (Stoughton, Massachusetts/Stoughton). The Purple Knights narrowly missed a bid to force overtime in the final minute when junior Megan Deschaine (Claremont, New Hampshire/Stevens) was open on the right post with an open net, but was unable to put her shot on target with 35-seconds to play.

Stonehill (11-2, 5-1 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Southern Connecticut State University for an NE-10 matchup at 5 p.m. The Skyhawks return home to host American International College on Saturday, November 8, for Senior Night at 6 p.m. Saint Michael's (8-5, 4-2 NE-10) hosts 5^th-ranked LIU Post on Saturday at 11 a.m.

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