#20 Women's Lacrosse Holds Off Saint Anselm, 8-6


Corvino paced the defensive effort with four caused turnovers. (PHOTO BY Mike Broglio/SportsPix)

Booth leads Skyhawks with three points

MANCHESTER, N.H. (March 16, 2017) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 20 in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, rode a seven goal first half to an 8-6 victory over Saint Anselm College in the Northeast-10 Conference women's lacrosse opener for both at Dr. George J. Larkin Field, on the campus Southern New Hampshire University, this afternoon.

Senior Shannon Booth (Pearl River, New York/Nanuet) totaled three points to lead Stonehill with two goals and an assist, while adding two ground balls and a caused turnover. Classmate Elizabeth Vetter (Great River, New York/East Islip) also netted two goals with four draw controls, two ground balls and a caused turnover. Senior Jenna Gilman (Ocean Township, New Jersey/Ocean Township) contributed a goal and assist with three ground balls, while senior All-American Cara Corvino (Dorset, Vermont/Burr & Burton Academy) paced the defense with four caused turnovers and two ground balls.

Junior Zoie Cavotta (Saratoga Springs, New York/Saratoga Springs) kept Saint Anselm in the game with 12 saves, including nine in the first half, while collecting a ground ball and caused turnover. Stonehill held a 31-14 advantage for shots in the contest, converting 1-of-6 free-position shots (all in the first half). The Skyhawks also forced 21 Saint Anselm turnovers and registered a 9-7 edge in draw controls, including 8-2 in the first half. Junior Bailey Herr (Oakhurst, New Jersey/Ocean Township) made her first start of the season in the Stonehill goal and finished with two saves.

Junior Emma Palumbo (Sudbury, Massachusetts/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) scored a game-high three goals for Saint Anselm, to go with four ground balls and a caused turnover. Classmate Meaghan Sheehy (Wilmot, New Hampshire/Proctor Academy) recorded a game-high four points with a goal and three assists for the Hawks.


Booth totaled three points with two goals and an assist for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Mike Broglio/SportsPix)

Stonehill staked out a five goal lead in the opening 12 minutes of the game on its way to a 7-2 halftime cushion that it would make stand over the final 30 minutes. Booth scored both of her goals during the opening run, including a free-position marker with 18:21 remaining for her eighth goal of the season to give the Skyhawks the five goal lead. Her second goal came just 18-seconds after Gilman's marker.

Junior Marta Versprille (Franklin, Massachusetts/Franklin) broke up the run with her third goal of the season, but Stonehill added back to back goals from Vetter and freshman Jennifer Wheaton (Dartmouth, Massachusetts/Dartmouth) to open a six goal cushion (7-1) with four minutes remaining in the half. Sheehy set up senior Rachel Henderson (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) for her 12th goal of the season to round out the first half scoring with 1:01 to go.

Junior Taylor Shannahan (Mendham, New Jersey/Morris Catholic) opened the second half scoring after just 93-seconds, but that would prove to be the Skyhawks final goal of the day. Saint Anselm made a run at the Skyhawks with four straight goals, three of which were scored by Palumbo, to get back in the game. Palumbo's first goal of the half was less than a minute after Shannahan's third goal of the year, and then after Sheehy's 18th of the season with 19:11 remaining, she potted two goals 13-seconds apart to draw the Hawks within two with 12:55 still to play. However, Stonehill held from there, holding Saint Anselm to just two wide shots and forcing four turnovers the rest of the way to close out the win.

Stonehill (2-2, 1-0 NE10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Franklin Pierce University for an NE10 matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m. Saint Anselm (2-3, 0-1 NE10) hosts American International College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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