Skyhawks ranked No. 24 after 4-1 start, including Saturday's win over current No. 6 Le Moyne
Sullivan ranks among NE10 scoring leaders, while also ranking among Division II leaders in draws, caused turnovers and ground balls (PHOTO BY Crystal Ayn Photography) |
EASTON, Mass. (March 22, 2022) – The Stonehill College women's lacrosse team is ranked No. 24 in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, marking its first appearance in the poll since March 2018.
Stonehill, off to a 4-1 start for the first time since the 2019 season, is back in the IWLCA Division II poll for the first time since it also held a No. 24 national ranking prior to a 10-8 setback to rival Bentley University on March 24, 2018. The Skyhawks are off to a 2-0 start in the NE10, currently sitting alone atop the Conference standings, for the first time since the 2017 season and seeks its first 3-0 start since 2015 when they opened with nine-straight wins.
Stonehill, also ranked No. 16 in this week's USA Lacrosse Magazine Division II poll, is one of eight teams from the NE10 appearing in this week's IWLCA Top 25, which is led by Queens (N.C.) College (8-0), marking the third-straight week a new team has been ranked No. 1 in Division II. Joining Stonehill from the NE10 are No. 3 Adelphi University (4-0, 1-0 NE10), No. 6 Le Moyne College (3-2, 0-1 NE10), No. 14 Bentley (2-1, 1-0 NE10), No. 15 Pace University (4-1, 1-0 NE10), No. 18 University of New Haven (4-0, 1-0 NE10), No. 19 Assumption University (3-2, 1-0 NE10) and No. 20 Saint Anselm College (3-1, 1-0 NE10).
Stonehill has won its lone game of the season so far against a team appearing in the IWLCA Top 25 after Saturday's 17-14 triumph over Le Moyne at W.B. Mason Stadium. The Skyhawks have also faced two other teams appearing among teams receiving votes in this week's poll, posting a 22-9 victory over Concordia University (Minn.)-St. Paul in Melbourne, Florida, on March 9, with Lynn University dealing the Skyhawks their lone loss to date (21-16) two days earlier in Boca Raton, Florida.
Saturday's win over then No. 2 Le Moyne marks Stonehill's highest-ranked victory since a 13-10 triumph over No. 2 West Chester (Pa.) University in the 2005 NCAA National Championship game in which Stonehill was ranked No. 1 in the country to cap off its 21-0 season with the program's second National Championship in three years. The Skyhawks snapped Le Moyne's 27-game winning streak in NE10 games dating back to April 25, 2018, pinning the highest goal total against the Dolphins since Adelphi University netted 18 in an NCAA semifinal decision in 2011.
Rudden leads the NE10 in scoring and assists, ranking tenth nationally in the latter category. (PHOTO BY Crystal Ayn Photography) |
Stonehill has scored 20-plus goals in three of its four wins this spring, with 15-plus goals in all five games, scoring a Division II best 19.40 goals per game. The Skyhawks lead the NE10 and rank fourth nationally in shot percentage (.548), while also leading the Conference with 9.4 assists per game (4th nationally). Junior attack Lydia Rudden, named the NE10 Player of the Week for a second time this season on Monday, leads the NE10 in scoring (31 points) and assists (19) – good for tenth nationally in Division II, also chipping in with 12 goals. Five Skyhawks in all have totaled 20-plus points through five games, while senior preseason All-American Emma Sullivan leading the way with 19 goals (2nd NE10), to go with four assists for 23 points (6th).
A key to Stonehill's success early on has been its ability to control possession, leading Division II with 19.6 draw controls per game. Sullivan has been a key cog in that statistic, leading the NE10 (11th nationally) with 7.6 draw controls per game, while also ranking second in the Conference with 13 caused turnovers (12th) and 21 ground balls (6th). Sullivan has earned NE10 Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week accolades so far during the season.
Stonehill head coach Katie Conover, '03 has leaned on two goalkeepers without collegiate playing experience prior to the season in sophomore Claire Smith and freshman Sarah Faley, named the NE10 Rookie of the Week on Monday. Faley has seen the majority of work with four starts over the five games and posting a 12.42 goals against average (8th NE10) with 6.0 saves per game (9th) in 236:45 (5th). She registered a season-high 11 saves in Saturday's win over Le Moyne. The Skyhawks rank 13th in the NE10 in scoring defense (13.80 goals per game).
Stonehill (4-1, 2-0 NE10) is back in action with a pair of road games this week. The Skyhawks visit American International College on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., before heading to rival No. 14 Bentley on Saturday at 4 p.m. Stonehill returns to W.B. Mason Stadium next Wednesday, March 30, to host No. 19 Assumption at 7 p.m.
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