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Shannahan filled the stat sheet with two goals, seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Shannahan sparks Skyhawks to third straight win
EASTON, Mass. (April 12, 2017) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 17 in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, held off Bentley University in the second half to claim its third straight win with a 7-6 decision in Northeast-10 Conference women's lacrosse action on Timothy J. Coughlin '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.
Junior Taylor Shannahan (Mendham, New Jersey/Morris Catholic) sparked Stonehill to the win at both ends of the field, netting two goals to go with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Freshman Kaitlin Healey (Westwood, Massachusetts/Westwood) also netted two goals and collected a team-high three draw controls for the Skyhawks, while classmate MacKenzie Pleshaw (Franklin, Massachusetts/Franklin) chipped in with a goal, three ground balls, a draw control and two caused turnovers.
Freshman Bailey Grant (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) preserved the win in goal with seven saves, including two on Bentley free-position shot attempts in helping to hold the Falcons empty on five free-position shots for the contest. Senior Lauren Ochs (Rochester, New York/Irondequoit) finished with nine saves in the Bentley goal, adding five ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Senior Ciara Morley (Irvington, New York/Irvington) led five goal scorers for Bentley with two markers, while junior Carolyn Cruise (East Greenwich, Rhode Island/East Greenwich) added a goal and assist with two draw controls and two ground balls.
Grant was strong in goal again for the Skyhawks with seven saves. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Stonehill scored twice within a span of three minutes to answer a three goal run from Bentley which gave the Falcons their first lead of the night after Cruise's fourth goal of the season with 13:01 remaining. Senior Shannon Booth (Pearl River, New York/Nanuet) equalized just 35-seconds later with her 18th marker of the year, before Shannahan netted the game-winner with a free-position goal with 9:23 to play.
Pleshaw won the ensuing draw control and Stonehill held defensively the rest of the way to earn the win. Grant made a save with 6:10 remaining and the Skyhawks were able to run the clock down from there, with senior defender Michaela Brown (Pleasantville, New York/The Ursuline School) scooping up a ground ball off a Bentley turnover and Pleshaw adding a caused turnover with 1:15 to play on a Falcons clear attempt that sealed it.
Healey opened the scoring just 1:19 into the contest and then Shannahan doubled the Stonehill lead with 15:07 remaining in the first half. Pleshaw sent the Skyhawks into halftime with a 3-2 lead with her first goal of the night with 1:51 left in the opening frame. Morley knotted the score for a second time with her first goal of the game 12-seconds into the second half, but Healey restored the Skyhawks two goal cushion with 21:26 remaining. Bentley followed with a three goal run over a seven minute span to take its first lead.
Stonehill (7-5, 6-3 NE10) is off until Tuesday when it visits Southern New Hampshire University for another key NE10 battle at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Thursday, April 18, to host Saint Michael's College at 7 p.m.
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