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.