Skyhawks recover from sluggish start to overpower Yellow Jackets

EASTON, Mass. (April 14, 2011) – Stonehill College, ranked fifth in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, rebounded from their first loss of the season last weekend with a 20-1 decision this afternoon over visiting American International College in a Northeast-10 matchup.

Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) put away a game-high six goals and Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) scored five to lead Stonehill, who used a second-half surge to put the game out of reach. Jessica Guisti (Walpole, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) collected four assists, and the Skyhawks held American International scoreless for 46 minutes as Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) made seven saves. Katie Carr (Florence, Mass./Northampton) netted the lone goal for the Yellow Jackets in the first half, and Nicole Sawula (Hatfield, Mass./Northampton) was dealt the loss in net for American International.

Sam Lynott led the Skyhawks with six goals to help spark the offense in the second half.

Both sides got off to a slow start in a low-scoring first half, as Stonehill put eight of 17 shots off-target and American International converted only once, on Carr’s goal in the 16th minute. The Skyhawks played with a slim 2-1 lead until Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) converted a free-position shot to end a 14-minute scoring drought for Stonehill, and Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) tucked a wide shot from the left side just inside the right post to make it 4-1.

Lynott and Galligan combined for the next seven goals to seize control of the Stonehill offense and open an 11-1 gap early in the second half, and the Skyhawks returned to dominant form with 14 goals over the final 30 minutes to close out the game with a comfortable lead. Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) netted two late goals, both set up by Guisti, and Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) turned in a strong second half with a pair of goals, three ground balls to finish with a game-high six pickups, and two caused turnovers. Shannahan matched Reilly’s game high in caused turnovers with four, and Galligan and Christine Lanagan (North Dartmouth, Mass./Bishop Stang) collected three each. Moore made four of her seven stops in the second half, two of them on free-position shots, to limit opponents to a single goal for the third time this season.

Stonehill (11-1, 8-1 NE-10) will match up with another nationally-ranked opponent on Saturday when the Skyhawks host #6 C.W. Post at 11:30 a.m.