Sarah Galligan turned in a strong performance on both sides of the ball for Stonehill. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Galligan, Lynott power offense as Skyhawks cruise to conference victory

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 26, 2011) – Stonehill College, maintaining the fifth spot in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, streaked out to an early lead and never trailed as the Skyhawks put away host Assumption College 19-8 in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup Tuesday evening.

Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) tallied seven points on five goals and two assists, and Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) scored five times and led the Stonehill defensive effort with a team-high three caused turnovers and five ground balls. Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) added three goals and an assist, and goalkeeper Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) made six saves to earn the victory in net.

Assumption got three goals from Steph O’Rourke (Amherst, N.H./Southegan) and two from Erin Theriault (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam), and Michelle Monahan (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) made a career-high 15 stops for the Greyhounds.

Stonehill built up an 11-3 lead in the first half behind Galligan, Reilly, and Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic), who combined for the Skyhawks’ first six goals. O’Rourke got Assumption on the board after 12 minutes, but three successive turnovers by the Greyhounds led to three goals for Stonehill, who forced six turnovers in the first half and outshot Assumption by a 21-9 margin in the opening frame.

The Greyhounds regrouped to trade goals with Stonehill early in the second half as O’Rourke netted a pair in the opening minutes, but the Skyhawks limited them to eight shots in the half. Reilly and Emily Kerwin (Bristol, R.I./Portsmouth Abbey) each tallied two caused turnovers and three ground balls on the night, and Christine Lanagan (North Dartmouth, Mass./Bishop Stang) collected three draw controls to help Stonehill to a 16-13 advantage overall. Lynott scored three times in the second half, dropping in Stonehill’s 19th of the game with a second remaining.

Stonehill (14-2, 10-1 NE-10) concludes the regular season at home on Saturday morning, when the Skyhawks host #2 Le Moyne College at 11:30 a.m.