Hanifin matched her career-best with three points, dishing out a career-high two assists (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

Kaut's eight goals fires Bulldogs to third-straight win

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (March 23, 2024) – Bryant University used a series of three goal runs to secure a 16-10 victory over Stonehill College in a non-conference women's lacrosse matchup at Beirne Stadium this afternoon.

Senior Kenna Kaut provided half the Bryant scoring output with eight goals, chipping in two draw controls, while junior Amelia Piercy added four goals and an assist for five points, with two ground balls, a draw control and caused turnover. Senior Peyton Woodward also tallied five points with a goal and four assists, while freshman Gabriella Constant chipped in two goals and an assist.

Senior Sam Centofante finished with seven saves in the Bryant goal, while Stonehill senior Claire Smith posted double-figure saves for the second-straight game and fourth time this season overall with 11 stops.

Senior Lilly Leach paced Stonehill with three goals, six draw controls and a ground ball. Sophomore Abby Hanifin matched her career-high with three points, dishing out a career-best two assists with a goal, ground ball and two caused turnovers. Senior Molly Mae Hughes and sophomore Grace Murphy each scored a pair of goals for the Skyhawks.

Leach scored a team-high three goals, collecting six draw controls (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

How it Happened

• After Kaut opened the scoring with her first goal of the day less than three minutes into the contest, Stonehill grabbed the lead with 7:23 remaining in the opening quarter after goals from Hughes and Leach 48-seconds apart.
• Piercy and Kaut followed with goals separated by just 37-seconds to send Bryant into the second quarter with the lead (3-2).
• The Bulldogs stretched the run to three goals as Constant opened the second quarter with her first goal of the day 92-seconds in for a two-goal cushion.
• Hughes pulled one of those goals back for Stonehill with her second of the day two minutes later, but Bryant responded with another three-goal run to grab a four-goal lead (7-3) after sophomore Riley O'Mara followed back-to-back Kaut goals with one of her own with 4:47 left in the half.
• Leach scored her second of the afternoon to break up the Bryant run with 4:38 to play in the half, but the Bulldogs strung together three more, the first two by Kaut to carry a six-goal lead (10-4) into the second half after Piercy scored her second of the day with 11-seconds left in the half.
• Leach's third of the afternoon opened the second half scoring 100-seconds in and then junior Sofia D'Agostino and Murphy added goals 34-seconds apart to pull Stonehill back within four (11-7) with 9:36 still to play in the third quarter.
• Murphy's second of the day drew Stonehill back within four (12-8) after Kaut scored two minutes earlier, but another three-goal Bryant run restored a seven-goal lead (15-8) after a Piercy goal with 3:38 to go in the third.
• Sophomore Natalie Coutu and Hanifin scored free-position goals on either side of the quarter break to pull Stonehill back within five (15-10) with 4:07 to play, but Piercy ended any late comeback hopes and capped the scoring with 1:20 remaining.

Noteworthy

• Hanifin posted her second multi-point game of the season and her career with her career-high matching three points today, posting her first career multi-assist game.
• Hughes has multiple goals in five-straight games and seven of Stonehill's eight games overall this season. She will enter next week's two NEC contests 11 points shy of 200 for her career with 123 goals and 66 assists for 189 points in 54 career games.
• Leach has multiple goals in five-straight games and six games this season overall to enter the week ten points shy of 100 for her career with 79 goals and 11 assists in 46 games.
• Murphy has multiple goals for the sixth time this season (nine career).
• Smith has double-digit saves on both games this week and four games this season overall (six career).

Up Next

Stonehill (3-5, 2-1 NEC) returns to Northeast Conference play on Wednesday, when it visits Sacred Heart University at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks are back at W.B. Mason Stadium next Saturday, March 30, to host Central Connecticut State University for an NEC matchup at noon. Bryant (7-3, 1-0 AE) visits UAlbany next Saturday at 1 p.m.

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.