#8 Stonehill Powers Past Georgian Court 20-7 in Season Opener

Lynott, Anderson each net five goals as Skyhawks pull away with strong second half


Sam Lynott led all players with eight points and keyed Stonehill's second-half run.
 

EASTON, Mass. (March 5, 2011) – Stonehill College, ranked eighth in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, racked up 15 goals in the second half and never trailed as the Skyhawks claimed a season-opening 20-7 victory over Georgian Court University in a non-conference women's lacrosse matchup on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) and senior Hannah Anderson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) each scored five times to lead Stonehill, while Lynott picked up three assists for a game-high eight points, and sophomore Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) added three goals. The Lions got four goals from senior Ryan McGrath (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) and a pair from senior Lauren Conaty (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro), but were held off by a combined 10-save effort from Stonehill sophomore goaltenders Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) and Caitlyn Taveira (Mineola, N.Y./Mineola).

The Skyhawks put away two quick goals within the first minute of play, as Sullivan connected on Stonehill's first shot after just 34 seconds, and Lynott scored directly off the ensuing faceoff to put the Skyhawks out in front early. Conaty and McGrath took charge of the Georgian Court offense to keep it close as Conaty collected all three of her points before halftime on two goals and an assist, and McGrath chipped in one of each.

Moore made six stops in the first half, including a pair on free-position shots, and sophomore Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) scored twice within a minute at the end of the period to send Stonehill into the break with a 5-3 lead.

The Skyhawks quickly broke it open in the second half behind a combined five goals from Anderson and sophomore Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) within the first five minutes. McGrath rallied the Lions to within a 10-7 margin with three straight goals, but they were the last ones Georgian Court would put on the board as Stonehill went on a 10-0 run over the final 13 minutes. Lynott and junior Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) converted a pair of free-position attempts and each picked up an assist on Anderson's fourth and fifth goals of the day, and freshman Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) put her first career goal in the books for the Skyhawks.

Stonehill (1-0, 0-0 NE-10) begins Northeast-10 Conference competition on Tuesday, when the Skyhawks host Saint Michael's College at 4 p.m.