Impressive Win Lands Skyhawks in Finals
Easton, Mass. - The Stonehill College Women's Lacrosse team (13-3, 10-0 Northeast-10 Conference) is one step closer to their ninth consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship with an 18-5 win over the Saint Michael's Purple Knights, Friday evening. The win grants Stonehill their tenth trip to the Conference Finals - a feat they have yet miss in the programs history. The Skyhawks await the winner Friday's match up between the No. 3 seeded Bryant University at No. 2 seeded Southern N.H.
A back-and-forth affair dictated the first minutes of the opening half. Saint Michael's scorers Lauren Rizzotti and Amanda Soule traded markers with sophomores Liza Gross (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) and Jackie Ladino (North Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) to a 3-3 tie 10 minutes in.
Stonehill took control of the contest midway through the first half. With the score knotted at 3-3, the Skyhawks went on to score 10 of the next 11 goals to close half. Gross led all scorers in the first half with three goals and an assist. Michelle Kelly (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) added two scores in the closing minutes of the second half to put the Skyhawks up, 12-4. Seven Skyhawks found the back of the net of in the first half.
The second half was more of the same for the Purple Knights. Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y/West Islip) and Kelly, a junior, combined for five of Stonehill's six second-half scores. Senior Christa LaRocco (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) added a marker, as well, apart of a 6-1 second half for the Stonehill squad.
Goalkeeper Amanda McGeachey (Saco, Maine/Thornton) settled in, claiming eight of her 11 saves in the second half. Her counterpart, Saint Michael's Courtney Wakem did not fare as well, allowing 18 goals and stopping eight. Both goaltenders allowed only one free-position goal in 11 combined attempts.
Mary Maloney (Great River, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) was Stonehill's top-scorer of the contest. She registered two goals and four assists for six total points. Maloney, a junior, is third on the team in scoring with 49 total points.
Darrell, Kelly and Gross each finished with five total points. Darrell and Gross each scored three times and added two assists, while Kelly registered her points with five goals. Ladino and LaRocco each pitched in with two scores and an assist each.
Regardless of their opponent, the top-seeded Skyhawks will host the Northeast-10 Conference Championship game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.