Senior Rebecca Matheson had a hand in three of the Skyhawks four goals this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Bird leads Pioneers to win with five points
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (April 26, 2016) – LIU Post, ranked fifth in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, used a nine goal run to propel its way to an 11-4 victory over 20th-ranked Stonehill College in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium this afternoon.
Junior Connor Bird (Syosset, New York/Syosset) led LIU Post to its fourth straight win with five points on three goals and two assists, adding six draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Freshman Ryan McKinney (Downingtown, Pennsylvania/Downingtown) netted three goals with a pair of draw controls, while junior Stefani Vagelatos (Port Jefferson Station, New York/Comsewogue) tallied two goals and two assists for four points.
Sophomore Olivia Kirk (Farmingdale, New York/Farmingdale) finished with two saves in the LIU Post goal as the Pioneers posted a 20-10 advantage for shots, converting 5-of-8 free-position shots, and adding a 14-3 edge in draw controls. Sophomore Kaitlyn Hess (Guilderland, New York/Guilderland) registered three saves in 52:43 in relief of classmate Bailey Herr (Oakhurst, New Jersey/Ocean Township), while collecting three ground balls and a caused turnover.
Senior Rebecca Matheson (Reading, Massachusetts/Reading Memorial) had a hand in three of Stonehill's four goals with two goals and an assist. Senior Caitlin Sweeney (Hollis, New Hampshire/Hollis-Brookline) and junior Elizabeth Vetter (Great River, New York/East Islip) each chipped in with a goal.
Kaitlyn Hess had three saves, three ground balls and a caused turnover. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Matheson's first goal equalized the game 2:35 into the contest, just a minute after McKinney opened the scoring. LIU Post proceeded to score the next nine goals to take control of the game. The Pioneers scored three goals within a three minute span to open a 4-1 lead after Bird's first goal of the game 5:51 into the half. Vagelatos led the run with a goal and assist and she also added her second goal of the run with 16 minutes left in the half to extend their lead to four goals.
LIU Post added three more goals in the closing 8:47 of the half to carry an 8-1 lead into the intermission as McKinney potted her third goal of the half and Bird dished out two assists. The Pioneers run extended to nine goals as Bird scored the first two goals of the second half a minute and a half apart to stretch the lead to 10-1 with 14:49 to play. Stonehill followed by scoring the next three goals, led by a goal and assist from Matheson, but it was too late and the Pioneers capped the scoring with a free-position foal by senior Jessica Marsh (Sayville, New York/Sayville) with 34-seconds left, just 11-seconds after Vetter's 24th goal of the season, assisted by Matheson.
Stonehill (7-8, 5-6 NE-10) is back in action on Thursday when it hosts Merrimack College on Senior Night W.B. Mason Stadium at 7 p.m. LIU Post (13-3, 6-1 NE-10) hosts Mercy College on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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