NE10 SEMIFINAL: #1/2 Le Moyne Runs Past #17 Women's Lacrosse, 11-4

Seven-goal run erases early deficit for Dolphins to reach final


Grant had five saves and three ground balls in the Skyhawks goal. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (May 6, 2017) – Top-seeded Le Moyne College, ranked No. 1 in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll and No. 2 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine poll, strung a seven goal run through halftime to fuel an 11-4 victory over fourth-seeded Stonehill College, ranked 17th in the IWLCA poll, in semifinal round action of the 2017 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Ted Grant Field today.

Le Moyne (18-0, 13-0 NE10) advances to tomorrow's NE10 Championship match to face second-seeded and No. 3-ranked Adelphi University (17-1, 12-1 NE10) at Grant Field at 1 p.m. The Panthers advanced with a 14-7 victory over third-seeded University of New Haven in their semifinal. Stonehill (12-7, 10-3 NE10), ranked eighth in this week's NCAA Division II North Regional rankings, sees its win streak against NE10 opponents halted at eight games and awaits word on one of six NCAA Tournament bids when the selection show airs tomorrow night on ncaa.com at 8 p.m.

Freshmen Sidney Hall (Adams Center, New York/South Jefferson) and Nicole Delany (Camillus, New York/West Genesee) paced the Le Moyne attack with three goals apiece, while Delaney also totaled four caused turnovers and two ground balls for the Dolphins. Sophomores Bryanna Fazio (Watertown, New York/General Brown) and Maddie Knapp (Watertown, New York/South Jefferson) each contributed a goal and assist, with Fazio collecting a team-high four draw controls.

Freshman goalkeeper Hannah George (Johnson City, New York/Maine-Endwell) preserved the win with eight saves in the Le Moyne goal, while collecting four ground balls, as the Dolphins overcame an 11-6 Stonehill advantage on the draw by forcing 17 turnovers and limiting the Skyhawks to 9-for-14 on clear attempts and 0-for-6 on free-position shots. Freshman Bailey Grant (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) finished with five saves in the Stonehill goal, with three ground balls.


Shannahan added five ground balls and two caused turnovers to her goal. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Four different Stonehill players scored in the contest, with freshman Jennifer Wheaton (Dartmouth, Massachusetts/Dartmouth) totaling three draw controls and a ground ball with her marker, while junior Taylor Shannahan (Mendham, New Jersey/Morris Catholic) collected five ground balls and two caused turnovers with her goal. Freshman Kaitlin Healey (Westwood, Massachusetts/Westwood) chipped in with a goal and two draws, while senior Shannon Booth (Pearl River, New York/Nanuet) rounded out the Skyhawk goal scorers.

Stonehill held an early 2-1 edge after back-to-back goals from Healey and Booth 1:35 apart six and a half minutes into the contest. Healey knotted the score five minutes into the opening half with her 22nd goal of the season and then Booth nosed the Skyhawks in front with her 31st goal of the year with 23:26 remaining.

The lead lasted just over three minutes as Knapp tied the game with 20:24 left in the half to open a seven goal run that would stretch into the second half and give Le Moyne an 8-2 lead with 22:37 to play in the contest. Hall and Delany scored twice each as the Dolphins scored the final six goals of the first half to carry a 7-2 lead into the break. Knapp added an assist to her goal during that stretch as well.

Hall rounded out her three-goal afternoon with the opening goal of the second half 7:23 in. Wheaton scored off a feed from junior Brianna Doherty (Walpole, Massachusetts/Walpole) to end the run and draw Stonehill back within five (8-3) with 14:30 to play, but the Dolphins squashed the Skyhawks hopes of a comeback with the next two markers 1:25 apart from Delany and Fazio to give the hosts a seven goal cushion with 9:50 remaining.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.