Shannahan netted a team-high four goals to go with three ground balls and a caused turnover. (PHOTO BY Mike Broglio/SportsPix)

Bears erase pair of four goal deficits behind Milano's six points

EASTON, Mass. (April 22, 2017) – New York Institute of Technology, ranked No. 6 in this week's Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Division II poll and 13^th in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, erased a pair of four goal deficits, including one in the second half, before claiming a 13-12 overtime triumph against Stonehill College, ranked 18^th in the IWLCA poll, in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Timothy J. Coughlin '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon.

NYIT, also ranked fifth in this week's NCAA Division II North Region rankings, was led by six points from junior Alyssa Milano (Holbrook, New York/Rocky Point) as she tallied a game-high five goals and an assist to go with four draw controls, three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Senior Katie Meinecke (Manorville, New York/Eastport South Manor) added four goals, including the game-winner with 2:16 remaining in the overtime, and an assist for five points, while collecting two draws, and classmate Karie Znaniecki (Port Jefferson, New York/Comsewogue) registered two goals and an assist for the Bears. Senior Trisha Serras (Lindenhurst, New York/Lindenhurst) chipped in two goals and two draw controls.

Senior Lauren Young (Centereach, New York/Centereach) finished with four saves in the NYIT goal, with two ground balls. Freshman Bailey Grant (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) registered eight stops, including five in the first half and one in overtime, while stopping four free-position shots as she limited the Bears to 6-for-12 on free-position attempts overall.

Junior Taylor Shannahan (Mendham, New Jersey/Morris Catholic) paced Stonehill with four goals, converting all three free-position shot attempts, with three ground balls and a caused turnover. Freshman MacKenzie Pleshaw (Franklin, Massachusetts/Franklin) netted three goals, while classmate Jennifer Wheaton (Dartmouth, Massachusetts/Dartmouth) tallied a pair and five draw controls. Freshman Kaitlin Healey (Westwood, Massachusetts/Westwood) chipped in with a goal, five draws, a ground ball and a caused turnover.

Meinecke's gamewinner closed out a 7-2 scoring swing to close out the contest after Stonehill had opened its second four goal cushion of the contest (10-6) with Wheaton's second marker of the afternoon 4:17 into the second half. NYIT followed with a three-goal run to trim its deficit to a goal following a Znaniecki marker, assisted by Milano, with 16:37 remaining.

Pleshaw added three goals and a draw for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Mike Broglio/SportsPix)

Stonehill answered just 1:07 later with a free-position goal by Shannahan, but NYIT reeled off a second three-goal run to take its first lead (12-11) since midway through the first half after the second of two straight Milano goals with 8:12 to play. Shannahan stepped up again for the Skyhawks and knotted the score with a free-position goal with 7:06 on the clock.

Stonehill had the better of chances down the stretch in regulation, but Young stopped a Shannahan try just a minute after her equalizer and then sophomore Linna Jalinskas (Farmington, Connecticut/Farmington) fired a free-position shot over the crossbar with two minutes remaining. The Skyhawks also won the opening draw of overtime and worked its offensive throughout most of the first half of the overtime, but their 12^th turnover of the afternoon sent the ball to the other end of the field with less than a minute remaining in the first half, where Grant made a stop with two seconds left before the teams flipped fields.

NYIT won the draw to start the second half of overtime and Meinecke's ended the game with her 45^th goal of the season 44-seconds in. It marks Stonehill's second overtime loss to a nationally-ranked opponent at home this season after then 12^th-ranked University of New Haven rallied for a 12-11 decision in double-overtime at W.B. Mason Stadium on March 29.

NYIT staked out an early 4-2 lead after Milano's third goal of the day 11-minutes into the contest. Stonehill rallied with six straight goals, including a pair from Pleshaw to open its first four goal cushion (8-4) with 3:42 remaining in the opening half, before settling for a three goal halftime lead.

Stonehill (9-6, 8-3 NE10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits Merrimack College for a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return to W.B. Mason Stadium next Friday, April 28, to host nationally-ranked Pace University for Senior Night at 7 p.m. NYIT (14-1, 6-0 ECC) hosts Queens College on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

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