Two-time national champions halt Skyhawks’ run

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (April 9, 2011) – In a showdown of the two major challengers for the Northeast-10 Conference title, Stonehill College, ranked fifth  in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, fell 20-14 this afternoon to top-ranked and two-time defending national champion Adelphi University. The Skyhawks sustain their first defeat in 11 games this season, while Adelphi takes over sole possession of first place in the NE-10 standings.

Junior Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) paced the Stonehill offense with a season-high six goals to help the Skyhawks close the gap on an early deficit, but Adelphi strung together a 5-1 scoring run in the final ten minutes to hold on for the win. Junior Claire Petersen (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh/Catholic University) led Adelphi with 12 points on five goals and seven assists, while four Panthers each chipped in three goals.

Sarah Galligan put up a season-high six goals, but Stonehill couldn't finish off top-ranked Adelphi.

Adelphi streaked out to an early lead with nine of the game’s first ten goals, Petersen involved in seven of them, and never trailed despite an aggressive rally by the Skyhawks. With the Panthers holding a 9-1 advantage with the clock running down in the first half, Galligan took charge of the Stonehill attack to put away three goals in the final six minutes, and junior Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) added a goal and an assist as the Skyhawks cut Adelphi’s lead to 10-6.

Stonehill came out firing in the second half behind two more from Galligan and a pair from senior Hannah Anderson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), who helped spark the Skyhawks’ run with a game-high 11 draw controls. Galligan tallied an unassisted goal with 13:52 remaining to pull Stonehill within one goal at 13-12, but the Panthers scored seven of the game’s last nine, including three from freshman Devan Crimi (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), to pull away for good. Freshman goalkeeper Frankie Caridi (East Northport, N.Y./Commack) made 11 saves as the Panthers held a slim 35-33 advantage in shots, and sophomore Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) made four stops in net for the Skyhawks as each team surrendered a season high in goals.

Sophomore Katelynn Ciaci (Northport, N.Y./Northport/Florida) anchored Adelphi’s defense in front of Caridi with a game-high eight caused turnovers. Galligan, Lynott, and senior Emily Kerwin (Bristol, R.I./Portsmouth Abbey) led the Skyhawks’ defensive unit with three caused turnovers and three ground balls each.

Stonehill (10-1, 7-1 NE-10) will seek a return to their winning form with a pair of home games this week, hosting American International College on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. and #6 C.W. Post on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.