Senior Heather Sullivan scored a game-high matching five goals for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Sileo in on 13 of Pioneers 15 goals with five goals and eight assists
EASTON, Mass. (April 13, 2013) – Defending NCAA Division II champions Long Island University Post, ranked No. 1 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, held off a second half rally from 11th-ranked Stonehill College to claim a 15-12 victory in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon.
Junior Jackie Sileo (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) played a role in 13 of LIU Post's 15 goals as she registered five goals and eight assists for 13 points in the victory, adding four ground balls and a caused turnover. Senior Ashley Olen (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) netted four goals and caused three turnovers for the Pioneers, while junior Morgan Chiarenza (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) also contributed four points with a goal and three assists along with four ground balls. Seniors Brie-Claire Drost (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) and Abbie Ross (Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point) each chipped in with two goals, while Drost also posted three ground balls, a draw control and caused turnover.
Senior Dominique Mosca (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) made 11 saves to preserve the win for LIU Post, including seven in the second half, stopping six of eight free-position attempts for Stonehill, including a pair in the closing minutes. The Pioneers held a 32-30 edge in shots and was successful on all 11 clear attempts and forced 12 Stonehill turnovers, including ten in the first half, while committing just six themselves (one second half). Sophomore Ashley Armstrong (Northborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) posted 12 saves in goal for Stonehill, including nine in the first half, and stopped six of seven free-position attempts by LIU Post. The Skyhawks held a 17-12 edge in draw controls.
Senior All-American Kelsey Reilly posted three goals and two assists with seven draw controls. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) led three Stonehill seniors with five points on the afternoon by netting a game-high matching five goals to go with two ground balls and two draw controls. Senior All-American Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) added three goals and two assists with seven draw controls, while classmate Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) registered two goals and three assists. Junior Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) chipped in two goals for the Skyhawks.
Post never trailed in the tight contest, scoring three of the first four goals over the opening ten minutes, keyed by a goal and two assists from Sileo and a goal and assist by Chiarenza. Stonehill evened the contest at three goals each with 17:18 left in the half, with Reilly notching a goal and assist. Sileo set up Drost and Olen for a pair of goals 12-seconds apart inside of 17 minutes to reclaim a two goal cushion with 16:21 remaining.
Stonehill was back within a goal (6-5) after a Sullivan marker, assisted by Reilly, with 11:52 left in the half, but LIU Post closed the first half with a 4-1 run to take a 10-6 lead into halftime. Sileo registered two goals and an assist during that stretch.
Sileo opened the second half scoring 1:22 in with a free-position goal and after an unassisted Stonehill goal by Shannahan with 25:39 remaining, LIU Post opened a game-high six goal margin (13-7) with 17:12 to play on goals by Sileo and junior Katie Rotan (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip).
Stonehill rallied with four-straight goals, three by Sullivan, to get back in the game and close within two (13-11) after Sullivan's 47th marker of the year with 9:47 still to play. LIU Post held and Olen scored off a Sileo feed to push the lead back to three (14-11) with 6:43 to play. Reilly drew Stonehill back within two (14-12) off a Green pass with 4:28 remaining, but the Pioneers got the draw and worked the clock down to 44-seconds before Ross capped the scoring, assisted by Sileo. Stonehill collected the ensuing draw, but was unable to get any closer.
Stonehill (9-5, 8-2 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits Merrimack College for a Northeast-10 matchup at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Saturday to host 10th-ranked Dowling College on Senior Day at 11 a.m. LIU Post (10-0, 3-0 ECC) hosts No. 2-ranked West Chester University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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