#5 Field Hockey Starts Quick Against Saint Michael’s, 5-2

Andersen and Sylvia net a goal each as Skyhawks open NE-10 play with fourth straight win


Anderson scored two first half goals to lead the Skyhawks this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Eamonn Grealish)

EASTON, Mass. (September 17, 2016) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 5 in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, jumped out to a four goal lead by halftime, scoring just 32-seconds into the contest, on its way to a 5-2 victory over Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey action at Timothy J. Coughlin '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium today.

Junior Alexandria Sylvia (Brockton, Massachusetts/Brockton) and sophomore Carly Andersen (Cheshire, Connecticut/Canterbury School) each netted a pair of goals for Stonehill, while sophomore Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) posted four points with a goal and two assists. Senior captain Shea Healy (Greenfield, Massachusetts/Pioneer Regional) and juniors Alexandra Gerew (Harrisville, Rhode Island/Pomfret School) and Alexandra Dillon (Canton, Massachusetts/Canton) all chipped in with assists.

Sophomore Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) saw her shutout streak halted at three games, but made one second half save for Stonehill. The Skyhawks yielded their first goal in 286:37 dating back to the second half of its season-opener against No. 1 East Stroudsburg University, before Saint Michael's broke through in the second half. Stonehill posted a 25-6 advantage in shots for the game, including 13-0 in the opening half. The Purple Knights held an 8-7 edge for penalty corners.


Sylvia added her first two goals of the season with a marker in each half. (PHOTO BY Eamonn Grealish)

Senior Abby Dusha (Greenwich, New York/Greenwich Central School) and sophomore Nicole White (Cranston, Rhode Island/Lincoln School) netted goals for Saint Michael's. Senior Abigail Bowie (Readsville, Maine/Kents Hill School) posted ten saves in the Purple Knights cage, including six in the second half to limit the Skyhawks to a goal.

Stonehill took quick control of the contest, scoring off the opening possession, as Gerew collected a clearing attempt at the top of the circle and directed a backhand pass to an open Andersen on the left side of the cage for an empty net goal just 32-seconds in. Smith doubled the Skyhawks lead at 15:32 with her ninth goal of the season on a breakaway off a counter attack. She set up Andersen for her second goal of the half five minutes later with a sharp pass from the right side for a one-timed shot by Anderson on the left post for her third goal of the year.

Sylvia closed out the first half scoring with her first marker of the season when she took a pass from Healy from the right side, made a touch and then fired a shot into the left side 27-seconds before the intermission. Dusha broke Stonehill's shutout streak with her first goal of the season 15:35 into the second half with a shot from the right side off a counter attack that deflected off a defender and into the cage.

Sylvia added her second off a corner when she took a pass from Smith at the top of the circle off Dillon's insertion and scored from the center of the area at 57:43. Saint Michael's answered just a minute later off its own corner as White tipped in a drive from just inside the arc from sophomore Maddy Dobecki (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) at 58:55 to close out the scoring in the contest.   

Stonehill (4-1, 1-0 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday, when it visits No. 10 Adelphi University for an NE-10 matchup at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return to W.B. Mason Stadium next Saturday, September 24, to host 7th-ranked LIU Post for an NE-10 clash as Stonehill celebrates 20-years of the program's history at noon. Saint Michael's (2-3, 0-1 NE-10) hosts Merrimack College on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

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.