Junior Elizabeth Vetter netted three goals, including the go-ahead goal with six minutes left. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Vetter and Sweeney lead Skyhawks with four points, netting two late goals to clinch victory
EASTON, Mass. (April 7, 2016) – Stonehill College, ranked 16th in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, outscored Southern Connecticut State University 6-2 in the second half to claim a 10-8 victory in Northeast-10 Conference women's lacrosse action on Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.
Senior Caitlin Sweeney (Hollis, New Hampshire/Hollis-Brookline) and junior Elizabeth Vetter (Great River, New York/East Islip) each totaled four points to lead Stonehill, providing a goal apiece over the final six minutes to break an 8-8 tie to clinch a second straight win. Vetter tallied three goals and an assist with four draw controls, four ground balls and a caused turnover, while Sweeney finished with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Taylor Shannahan (Mendham, New Jersey/Morris Catholic) scored a career-high three goals with five draws, two ground balls and two caused turnovers for the Skyhawks. Senior Rebecca Matheson (Reading, Massachusetts/Reading Memorial) chipped in with a goal and assist, setting up the go-ahead goal.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Hess (Guilderland, New York/Guilderland) preserved the win with two saves as Stonehill finished with a 20-17 edge in shots. The Skyhawks held a 12-8 advantage in draw controls, including 7-2 in the second half, and held Southern Connecticut State to a 7-for-13 conversion rate on clear attempts, while completing 7-of-9 clears themselves. Freshman Alexandra Takacs (Sparta, New Jersey/Sparta) finished with six stops for the Owls.
Freshman Samantha Cozzolino (Hamden, Connecticut/Hamden) scored three goals to lead Southern Connecticut, while sophomore Carolynn Keal (Southington, Connecticut/Southington) and freshman Nicole Healey (Milford, Connecticut/Saint Joseph) each netted two goals. Healey also contributed three draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover, while Keal collected two ground balls and a draw.
Senior Caitlin Sweeney totaled four points with two goals and two assists tonight. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Stonehill trailed by two at halftime, but quickly knotted the score less than three minutes into the second half with goals from junior Shannon Booth (Pearl River, New York/Nanuet) and Shannahan, assisted by Sweeney. Booth struck first 56-seconds into the half before Shannahan tied the game after 2:51. The Skyhawks would produce a five goal run stretching back into the first half, when Shannahan scored off a Sweeney feed with seven seconds left, to take a two goal lead (8-6) after Shannahan's third goal of the night with 15:59 remaining.
Vetter gave Stonehill its first lead of the night with her second goal of the game with 19:39 to go and then set up Shannahan's fifth goal of the season for a two goal cushion. Southern responded with two markers a minute and a half apart to pull even again following a free-position goal by Keal with 11:39 to go. Cozzolino scored the Owls first goal in that stretch with 13:08 left.
Vetter's team-leading 18th goal of the year, assisted by Matheson, put Stonehill in front for good with 6:05 to go and then Sweeney capped the scoring with a free-position goal with 3:16 left to provide some insurance.
Southern Connecticut State came out of a combined five goals between the two teams in the opening six minutes with a 3-2 edge, keyed by a pair of goals from Cozzolino. Keal gave the Owls a two goal lead (3-1) with a free-position marker 5:12 into the game, before Vetter drew Stonehill back within a goal with her first goal of the night 39-seconds later. Sweeney pulled the Skyhawks even (3-3) with 18:50 remaining in the half, but the Owls reeled off three goals in a four minute span, the last two by Healey, to open a three goal lead (6-3) – the largest by either team on the night, with 10:59 left.
Stonehill (5-4, 4-3 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits American International College, among teams receiving votes in the IWLCA Division II poll, for a key Northeast-10 match on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, April 19, when they host Southern New Hampshire University at 7 p.m. Southern Connecticut State (3-8, 1-6 NE-10) visits Pace University next Wednesday, April 13, at 6 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
