Smith tallied her third hat trick of the season, netting the final two goals of the game to cap the Skyhawks rally. (PHOTO BY Eamondn Grealish) |
Smith's third hat trick fires Skyhawks to fifth straight win
Sophomore Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood), named the Longstreth/NFHCA Division II Offensive Player of the Week earlier this afternoon, led Stonehill to the comeback win with her third hat trick of the season (5th career), including the Skyhawks last two goals within an 83-second span in the second half to complete the comeback. Her third game-winner of the season came with 16:21 remaining just 1:23 after her second goal of the contest knotted the score at 4-4.
Sophomore Carly Andersen (Cheshire, Connecticut/Canterbury School) posted her second straight multi-goal game and extended her scoring streak to three games with pair of markers for Stonehill. Senior captain Shea Healy (Greenfield, Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley), junior Alexandria Sylvia (Brockton, Massachusetts/Brockton) and sophomore MacKenzie Greenberg (Mendon, Massachusetts/Hopedale) each dished out assists for the Skyhawks.
Sophomore Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) kept Stonehill in the game for the comeback with eight saves as shots finished even at 14 apiece for the contest, and Adelphi posting a 13-8 advantage for penalty corners. Freshman Bridget Geyer (West Nyack, New York/Clarkstown South) finished with four saves in the Adelphi cage.
Andersen has scored at least a goal in three straight game, including back to back two goal games. (PHOTO BY Eamonn Grealish) |
Junior Elizabeth Mercuri (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) led Adelphi with a goal and assist, while the Panthers also got goals from classmates Jamie Ahrens (Massapequa Park, New York/Massapequa) and Samantha Nizich (Nesconset, New York/Smithtown East) and sophomore Emily Power (Yorktown Heights, New York/Lakeland).
Adelphi jumped in front just 1:33 into the contest when Mercuri tapped in a pass from freshman Elissa Frein (Carle Place, New York/Carle Place) for her third goal of the season. Smith equalized for the first time in the game for Stonehill with her tenth goal of the year 12:18 into the half with a high shot into the right side of the goal. The Panthers opened its first two goal lead of the game by halftime when Power potted her third goal of the year by knocking in a cross from the right side by Mercuri at 21:23. Ahrens extended the lead with her third of the season from the left side of the scoring area at 31:19.
Andersen's first goal pulled Stonehill back within one 1:57 into the second half when she knocked in a cross from the right side by Sylvia, who now leads Division II with five assists on the season. Adelphi restored its two goal cushion less than four minutes later when Nizich scored off a rebound from the top of the circle at 40:16. Andersen again pulled Stonehill back within a goal off a shot from Healy just 2:25 later for her fifth goal of the season – all within the last three games.
Smith's second half double pushed Stonehill in front for the first time. She knotted the score at four a side with her second of the game into the right side at 52:16. Smith's gamewinner came just 1:23 later off a Greenberg pass from outside the circle in front of the cage for her 12th goal of the season at 53:39. The assist was the first career point for Greenberg in ten games over her first two seasons.
Stonehill (5-1, 2-0 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday, when it hosts No. 2 LIU Post for an NE-10 clash at W.B. Mason Stadium as the College celebrates 20-years of the program's history at noon. Adelphi (3-3, 0-1 NE-10) hosts Saint Michael's College on Saturday 1 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.