#6 Stonehill Handles #8 Bentley, 17-8


Junior Heather Sullivan totaled seven points with five goals and two assists to lead the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Sullivan, Moore lead Skyhawks to fourth win over ranked opponent

WALTHAM, Mass. (March 27, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, posted its fourth win over a ranked opponent through just seven games this season with a commanding 17-8 triumph over 8th-ranked Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference women's lacrosse action tonight.

Junior Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) led the Stonehill offense with seven points on five goals and two assists, converting two of three free-position opportunities, with four draw controls. Classmate Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) posted a goal and five assists for six points with a ground ball and caused turnover.

Junior All-American Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) netted three goals with six draw controls, three ground balls and a caused turnover, while senior All-American Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) contributed three goals and an assist with four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Freshman Emily Faherty (Westborough, Mass./Westborough) chipped in two goals.

Junior All-American Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./Saint Mark's School) posted a season-high 12 saves in goal (eight first half) for Stonehill as the Skyhawks finished with a 31-27 advantage for shots, including 26-20 on goal. Stonehill converted 3-of-13 free-position attempts, compared to 1-for-5 for Bentley. Draw controls were even at 13 apiece, while Stonehill was successful on 11-of-15 clear attempts, while the Falcons cleared 12-of-14 attempts. Sophomore Ally Dorman (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) finished with 17 stops in goal for Bentley.


Junior Kayla Green dished out five assists and added a goal for six points. (PHOTO BY Shane Bufano)

Sophomore Chelsea Larivee (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) paced the Bentley attack with two goals and an assist for three points, adding three ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers. Junior Cori Geiger (Agawam, Mass./Agawam) added a goal and assist with three draw controls.

Stonehill jumped out to a three goal lead after two goals from Reilly and a marker from freshman Jillian Yung (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham), assisted by Green, seven and a half minutes into the game. Bentley got on the scoreboard just under ten minutes into the half with a goal by senior Megan Wiggins (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough), assisted by Geiger.

Stonehill reeled off four straight goals as it began to take control with a 7-1 advantage after a Sullivan goal with 12:56 remaining in the half, assisted by Green. Sullivan had two goals during that stretch, while Galligan and sophomore Mary Lee Mahony (Yardley, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) also chipped in goals. Freshman Amy Ernst (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) netted a goal for Bentley with 7:19 left in the opening frame, but Stonehill tacked on two more goals by senior Kaitlyn Wood (North Massapequa, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) and Faherty to take a 9-2 lead into halftime.

Junior Taylor Bastien (North Kingstown, R.I./North Kingstown) scored the opening goal 1:16 into the second half for Bentley, but Stonehill scored five of the next six goals to take control of the game for good with a 14-4 lead with 9:56 to play. Sullivan scored two more goals during that game-deciding stretch, while Green contributed a goal and assist. Stonehill extended the lead to 17-6 after Galligan's third goal of the night, assisted by Sullivan, with 1:34 remaining before Bentley capped the scoring with two goals in the final 1:12.

Stonehill has now played five of its first seven games against teams ranked in the IWLCA Division II poll, posting a 4-1 record, after tonight's matchup with rival Bentley.

Stonehill (6-1, 4-0 NE-10) takes its perfect Conference record on the road again on Thursday when it visits American International College at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, April 7, to host defending National Champion Adelphi University at 11:30 a.m. Bentley (4-3, 2-1 NE-10) hosts American International on Saturday at noon.