#5 Field Hockey Opens Up #10 Limestone in Second Half, 4-0


Smith scored all four Stonehill goals this afternoon, setting a career-high. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Smith nets all four markers, Freedman posts second-straight shutout

GAFFNEY, S.C. (September 10, 2016) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 5 in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II preseason coaches' poll, posted its second win over a ranked opponent this week with a dominant 4-0 victory over Limestone College at Saints Field this afternoon.

Sophomore forward Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) scored all four goals for Stonehill, marking a new career-high, while classmate Sara Freedman (Hopkinton ,Massachusetts/Hopkinton) posted her second straight shutout (fourth career) with a pair of saves. The Skyhawks haven't yielded a goal in 166:02 dating back to early in the second half of their season-opening setback to top-ranked East Stroudsburg University. Junior Alexandria Sylvia (Brockton, Massachusetts/Brockton) dished out a pair of assists, while senior Shea Healy (Greenfield, Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley) chipped in with a helper.

Junior Tabria Cochran (Stafford, Virginia/North Stafford) and freshman Rachel Bliss (West Chester, Pennsylvania/Henderson) split the goalkeeping duties for Limestone. Cochran started and made one save, while yielding three goals, over the first 51:30, before Bliss made two stops and surrendered a goal in the final 18:30. Stonehill held an 8-5 advantage in shots for the contest and a 6-5 edge in penalty corners.


Freedman posted her second straight shutout with a save each half. (PHOTO BY SportsPix)

Stonehill finally broke up a scoreless first half with just a minute left before halftime as Smith went one on one with Cochran and lifted a shot over the charging goalkeeper. The goal sent the Skyhawks into halftime with the momentum and they broke the game open with three goals in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

Smith added her second marker 13:48 into the second when she tipped in a drive from the top of the circle by Healy. Sylvia set up Smith's final two goals which came within a span of two minutes. Sylvia sent a ball in from the top of the arc to the post, where Smith one-timed the ball in at 51:30, before Sylvia sent a cross across the circle to Smith on the post again for an open goal at 53:25 to cap the scoring.

Stonehill (2-1, 0-0 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts 4th-ranked Merrimack College for a non-conference matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium at 7 p.m. Limestone (0-3, 0-0 ECAC II) hosts Bentley University tomorrow at noon.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market. Stonehill will serve as host of the 2016 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship at W.B. Mason Stadium, November 18-20.