McGrath Nets Four Goals, Acone And Darrell Each Add Hat Tricks As Top-Ranked Women's Lacrosse Claims School Record 18th Straight Victory With Key 12-8 Non-League Triumph Over Third-Ranked LIU-C.W. Post

April 17, 2005

STONEHILL WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Chieftain Stadium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL: STONEHILL 12, LIU-C.W. POST 8

1 2 Total

LIU-C.W. Post (8-2) 4 4 - 8

Stonehill (12-0) 7 5 - 12

SCORING SUMMARY

CWP GOALS: Shannon Fabian (3), Kemola Webster, Lindsay Goldman, Ashley Gilroy,

Lauren LoMonaco, Mallory Poole

STO GOALS: Jenny McGrath (4), Erin Acone (3), Kristin Darrell (3), Colby Confer,

Courtney Duggan

CWP ASSISTS: Goldman, Webster, Colleen Agostinachio, Masina Longo

STO ASSISTS: Acone, Confer, Duggan, McGrath, Tracey Hoffman, Brenna Newfell

GOALIE SAVES

CWP: Lauren Scipione—1, Chrissy Esposito—5

STO: Lauren Stone—6

EASTON, Mass.-- Junior Jenny McGrath (Milton, Mass.) netted four goals, while junior All-America Erin Acone (Bow, N.H.) and freshman Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y.) each added hat tricks as top-ranked Stonehill continued its best start ever by posting a key 12-8 non-league college women’s lacrosse victory over third-ranked LIU-C.W. Post Sunday afternoon at Chieftain Stadium.

The host Chieftains (12-0) set a school record with their 18th straight victory in the process, as that streak dates back to April 2004, and Stonehill has posted wins over each of the top three ranked squads in Division II this season, having defeated second-ranked West Chester last Tuesday afternoon after notching a 13-5 win over then top-ranked and defending national champion Adelphi back on April 3rd.

Stonehill jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on a pair of Darrell goals in the first 2:24 of play, but the visiting Pioneers (8-2) answered back to even matters at 2-2 on markers by junior Ashley Gilroy (Shoreham, N.Y.) and sophomore Lindsay Goldman (Rocky Point, N.Y.) with just over 19 minutes remaining in the half. The Chieftains held a 4-3 edge with just over 14 minutes to play in the half before netting three of the final four goals of the half, including a pair by McGrath, to take a 7-4 advantage at the break.

Acone scored a pair of goals in a 3:09 span early in the second half to increase the Stonehill lead to 9-4, and after sophomore Shannon Fabian’s (Rocky Point, N.Y.) free position goal with just over 20 minutes remaining, the Chieftains took their largest lead of the day on goals by McGrath and senior Courtney Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) for an 11-5 lead with 15:11 to play. Acone completed her hat trick with seven minutes to go for a 12-6 Stonehill edge, as C.W. Post goals by Fabian and freshman Mallory Poole (Corning, N.Y.) in the final 4:53 of action accounted for the final score.

McGrath and Acone each added assists to finish with a combined nine points on the day for Stonehill, while Duggan and senior All-America Colby Confer (Madison, Conn.) each posted a goal and an assist for the Chieftains, who also received single assists off the sticks of senior Brenna Newfell (North Billerica, Mass.) and sophomore Tracey Hoffman (Nashua, N.H.).

Fabian notched a hat trick in the setback for the Pioneers, who also received a goal and an assist each from Goldman and junior Kemola Webster (Elmont, N.Y.) as well as a single marker off the stick of sophomore Lauren LoMonaco (Massapequa, N.Y.) and an assist from junior Masina Longo (Bay Shore, N.Y.).

Junior Lauren Stone (Guilderland, N.Y.) picked up her 10th win of the season in goal for Stonehill with a six-save effort, including four stops in the final 30 minutes of action alone, while freshman Lauren Scipione (East Meadow, N.Y.) and sophomore Chrissy Esposito (East Islip, N.Y.) combined for six stops in net for LIU-C.W. Post, including five by Esposito in relief as the Pioneers outshot the Chieftains by a slim 22-21 margin.

The win was Stonehill’s fifth in the nine-match all-time series with LIU-C.W. Post, as the two NCAA North Regional foes have met in the NCAA championships on three different occasions. The Chieftains have won four of the last five match-ups with the Pioneers dating back to the 2002 NCAA national semi-finals.

Stonehill travels to Worcester, Mass. on Tuesday evening to take on Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference match that begins at 7:30 p.m., while LIU-C.W. Post heads to West Chester, Pa. on Tuesday afternoon for a non-league showdown with second-ranked West Chester that begins at 3:30 p.m.