Andersen netted two goals for the second straight game for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Jim Stankiewicz) |
Andersen double and Smith's 100th career point lifts Skyhawks to victory
WORCESTER, Mass. (September 11, 2017) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 5 in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II preseason poll, emerged from a five-goal second half with a 3-2 triumph over Assumption College in non-conference field hockey action at Multi-Sport Stadium tonight.
Juniors Carly Andersen (Cheshire, Connecticut/Canterbury School) and Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) combined to lead the Stonehill attack to claim its second straight win. Andersen netted a pair of goals for the second straight game, while Smith added the game-winning goal with 9:30 remaining and added an assist to become just the fifth student-athlete in program history to reach 100 career points. The All-American trails Kathryn Nelson '12 by just three points for fourth on the program's career scoring list, while her 42 goals in 45 career games is now tied for fifth all-time with Aly Boulis '08.
Junior Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) finished with four saves in the Stonehill goal as the Skyhawks finished with a 23-13 advantage in shots for the night and a 5-3 edge in penalty corners. Junior Sarah Bodzinski (Southwick, Massachusetts/Southwick Tolland) kept Assumption in the game with 15 saves.
Freshman Shannon Quinlan (Williamsville, New York/Williamsville North) played a role in both Assumption scores with a goal and assist, while sophomore Sam Tepper (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania/Stroudsburg) chipped in a marker.
Smith became just the fifth in program history to reach 100 career points with her goal and assist tonight. (PHOTO BY Jim Stankiewicz) |
After a scoreless first half in which Stonehill outshot Assumption 12-6, the Skyhawks opened the scoring 4:40 into the second half with Andersen's first goal of the night, assisted by sophomore Grace Pickering (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy). Assumption answered less than three minutes later with Quinlan's first career goal, assisted by sophomore Kristen McCarthy (Danvers, Massachusetts/Danvers) at 42:38.
Assumption grabbed the lead at 50:42 as Quinlan set up Tepper for her second goal of the year. Andersen's second goal of the night equalized at 53:50 when she one-timed a Smith pass from the top of the circle into the goal. Smith potted her second gamewinner of the year less than seven minutes later as she took the ball on the baseline and cut to the middle of the circle for her sixth goal of the year at 60:30.
Stonehill (2-2, 0-0 NE10) is right back in action on Wednesday night, when it visits Merrimack College for non-conference matchup at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Sunday to host the University of New Haven at 1 p.m. Assumption (1-3, 0-0 NE10) hosts New Haven on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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