Healy netted two goals today, giving her nine points over the Skyhawks last four games. (PHOTO BY Eamonn Grealish) |
Healy nets two goals, Smith notches goal and assist to lead Skyhawks
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (October 29, 2016) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 5 in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, closed out the regular season with a 3-2 victory over Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey action at Finnerty Field today.
Stonehill (13-4, 9-3 NE-10) finishes the regular season in a three-way tie for second place in the NE-10 standings with LIU Post and Adelphi University. LIU Post clinched the No. 2 seed for next week's NE-10 Tournament, and a first round bye, with its regular season win over top-seeded Saint Anselm College, while the Skyhawks will be the No. 3 seed due to its regular season win at Adelphi. Stonehill will host 6th-seeded Assumption College (10-7, 7-5 NE-10) in a rematch of the 2015 NE-10 Championship game, which the Skyhawks won 2-1 with a walk off goal on a penalty corner after time had expired, in an NE-10 Tournament first round matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium Tuesday at 7 p.m. Pace sees its second varsity season come to a close with a 9-9 record overall, including 5-7 in the NE-10.
Senior captain Shea Healy (Greenfield, Massachusetts/Pioneer Valley) scored two goals and sophomore Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) contributed a goal and assist to lead Stonehill to the win. Sophomore Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) finished with six saves to preserve the victory as the Skyhawks held a 12-9 advantage in shots, while Pace posted an 8-6 edge in penalty corners, including 7-2 in the second half in which it also outshot the visitors 8-6.
Smith added a goal and an assist in the win today. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Sophomore Halley Rose (Dauphin, Pennsylvania/Central Dauphin) and freshman Louisa Wegener (Hamburg, Germany) scored goals for Pace, which mounted a rally from a three goal deficit to close within a goal. Junior Lesly Sanchez Alvarez (Stamford, Connecticut/Stamford) totaled seven saves in the Setters goal.
Healy scored the only goal of the first half when she scored off a penalty corner 18:30 into the game. Junior Alexandra Dillon's (Canton, Massachusetts/Canton) corner pass was stopped by Smith at the top of the circle for a pass to Healy for the opening goal. Smith doubled the Skyhawks lead 6:15 into the second half with her Division II-leading 21st goal of the season on the left side of the circle into the upper right corner of the cage. Healy's second goal of the game and sixth of the season extended Stonehill's lead to three goals just 7:12 later, assisted by junior Alexandria Sylvia (Brockton, Massachusetts/Brockton), giving Healy at least a point in three of the Skyhawks last four games (nine points total).
Pace wouldn't go down quietly, with Wegener getting the Setters on the board at 53:10 with her first career goal from the top of the circle off a corner, assisted by sophomores Katrina Mikitish (Pittston, Pennsylvania/Pittston Area) and Rachel Platko (Hanover Township, Pennsylvania/Holy Redeemer). Pace pulled within a goal with 5:46 remaining when Rose potted her 12th goal of the year, assisted by sophomore Jane Kasparian (Mahopac, New York/Mahopac). The Setters challenged for an equalizer down the stretch, forcing two corners, and placing one shot on goal, which Freedman turned aside to preserve the win.
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.