NE-10 Title Returns to Easton
Boxscore
Burlington, Vt. - The Stonehill College Women's Lacrosse Team (12-2, 10-0 Northeast-10 Conference) achieved a status 10 years in the making. With a 17-5 win over the Saint Michael's Purple Knights (7-6, 5-4 Northeast-10 Conference) the Skyhawks capped their decade of dominance with their tenth consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Regular Season Championship. Since the program's inception in 1999, Stonehill College has never relinquished the Conference's Regular Season title. The Purple and White earn their 78th consecutive Conference win in the victory, the top-seed in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
A 10-2 halftime lead came courtesy of senior Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Liza Gross (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker). Each added three-first half scores on their way to defeating their tenth Conference opponent of the year.
The Skyhawks started the game on a 7-0 scoring spree with markers from senior Christa LaRocco (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Jackie Ladino (North Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth). Gross and junior Mary Maloney (Great River, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) traded scores with Saint Michael's Kim Berlo and Amanda Pelley, however the Skyhawks still held an eight-goal advantage.
The Skyhawks outscored the Purple Knights 7-3 in the second-half to secure the 17-5 victory. Darrell and Michelle Kelly (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) each totaled six total points. Darrell's total came from five goals and an assist, while Kelly, a junior, finished with three goals and three assists. Kelly leads the team with 51 goals scores and 26 assists.
Gross continues her hot streak, finding the back of the net five times. Also, she was one of three Skyhawks to claim three draw controls with Ladino and junior Kristyn Gramzow (Billerica, Mass./Billerica). Junior Michelle Salmon (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) had two earlier assists for the Skyhawks, as well.
The women close out the regular season with a trip to Long Island, N.Y. on Sunday to take on No. 1 ranked C.W. Post. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.