Antonellis produced the first points of her collegiate career, including her first two goals. (PHOTO BY Jim Stankiewicz) |
Smith and Antonellis propel Skyhawks with five points each
WALTHAM, Mass. (September 20, 2017) – Stonehill College used a four goal first half to fuel a 5-0 victory over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference field hockey action on Bentley Turf Field tonight.
Junior All-American Kacie Smith (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) and sophomore Michaela Antonellis (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) each totaled five points to lead Stonehill with two goals and an assist apiece. Smith posted her third-straight multi-goal game, the fourth of the season overall (11th career), while Antonellis netted the first two goals of her collegiate career.
Junior Sara Freedman (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) preserved the Skyhawks second-straight shutout, and her second of the season (12th career), with two second-half saves. Classmate Carly Andersen (Cheshire, Connecticut/Canterbury School) chipped in with a goal.
Junior Jana Mones (Ramsey, New Jersey/Ramsey) and freshman Tatiana Naclerio (Easton, Connecticut/Joe Barlow) split the goalkeeping duties for Bentley and finished with three saves apiece. Stonehill outshot the Falcons 18-5 for the night, including 11-3 in the first half as it netted four goals in the half, to go with a 10-5 advantage for penalty corners.
Smith posted her fourth multi-goal game of the year with a pair tonight. (PHOTO BY Jim Stankiewicz) |
Stonehill struck twice within the span of 2:07 to jump out to a quick two-goal lead. Smith opened the scoring 12:27 into the game on a breakaway, and then Antonellis potted her first collegiate goal at 14:43, assisted by senior Alexandra Dillon (Canton, Massachusetts/Canton) during a scrum in front of the Bentley cage off a penalty corner to double the Skyhawks lead.
Smith followed with her 15th goal of the season, assisted by Antonellis, with a shot from just inside the top of the arc to stretch the Stonehill lead to three goals at 24:59. Smith then turned provider to Antonellis for her second goal of the night less than three minutes later at 27:27 to send the Skyhawks into halftime with a commanding four-goal lead.
Andersen extended Stonehill's lead just 58-seconds into the second half with a shot from the near post inside the far post for her fifth goal of the year. That would wrap up the scoring on the night as Freedman held in goal with her two second half saves at the other end.
Stonehill (4-3, 1-0 NE10) is back in action on Saturday, when it hosts Southern Connecticut State University at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m. Bentley (0-6, 0-2 NE10) hosts LIU Post on Saturday at 11 a.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.