NE10 QUARTERFINAL: #9 Field Hockey Surges Past #6 LIU Post, 7-1

Smith and Andersen net two apiece as Skyhawks score seven unanswered in the second half


Smith led the Skyhawks second half surge with two goals and an assist. (PHOTO BY Matt Campbell)

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (November 13, 2018) – Sixth-seeded Stonehill College, ranked No. 9 in this week's Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, scored seven unanswered goals in the second half to advance past third-seeded and No. 3-ranked LIU Post in quarterfinal round action of the 2018 Northeast-10 Conference Field Hockey Tournament at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium this afternoon. 

Stonehill (13-6, 8-5 NE10) advances to Friday's semifinal round to face the winner of tonight's final quarterfinal between second-seeded and No. 5-ranked Merrimack College (15-3, 11-2 NE10) and seventh-seeded Bentley University (11-7, 7-6 NE10) being played in North Andover, Massachusetts. LIU Post (13-5, 10-3 NE10), ranked third in last week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, one spot ahead of Stonehill, must now await their NCAA Tournament fate when the Division II Selection Show airs next Monday, November 19, at 3 p.m.

Senior All-American Kacie Smith, the reigning Longstreth/NFHCA Division II Player of the Year, led the Stonehill surge with two goals and an assist for a five-point afternoon, while classmate Carly Andersen netted a pair. Junior All-American Michaela Antonellis delivered a goal and assist for the Skyhawks, while freshmen Emily Ledoux and Sophie Schreck chipped in with a goal apiece.


Andersen scored a pair of goals for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Matt Campbell)

Senior Sara Freedman made seven of her nine saves in the first half to keep Stonehill in the game after the Skyhawks came up empty on some chances early. Stonehill, competing in its NE10 record matching 20th NE10 Tournament reaches the semifinals for the sixth-straight year.

Sophomore Rachel Vellis finished with seven saves in 65:53 played in the LIU Post goal. Senior Tarryn Morris scored the Pioneers lone goal.

Morris' tenth goal of the year opened the scoring 1:58 before halftime after sustained LIU Post pressure over a nearly ten minute span when she tapped in a pass from the right side by senior Emily Miller.

Stonehill, which had three good scoring chances early in the first half and then missed on another late in the frame, finally broke through 11:51 into the second as Ledoux notched her first career goal after freshman Olivia Cameron slide her a pass off a rebound following a penalty corner. Antonellis and Smith struck for goals just 1:23 apart to kick off a four-goal barrage within a span of 6:33 to take control of the game. Antonellis' fourth goal of the year put the Skyhawks in front at 55:22, just moments after a missed penalty stroke by the visitors. Smith's first of the game came on a drive from the upper left corner of the circle at 56:45 for a two-goal lead.

LIU Post pulled Vellis for an extra attacking player to get back in the game, but Stonehill added two more goals to put the game out of reach. Smith broke through the last line of Pioneers defense down the left side of the field for her 31st goal of the season into an unguarded net at 58:31. Andersen followed with back-to-back goals, the first on a tip of an Antonellis drive on a penalty corner, before adding her 14th goal of the year off a pass from Smith at 66:11. Schreck rounded out the scoring with her second goal of the year off a penalty corner with just 2:34 to play.   

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