Skyhawks and Owls set to face off for the second time this season
Henry leads the team with 23 points and earned her first-career NE10 honor being named to the first team (PHOTO BY: Mary Gettens) |
EASTON, Massachusetts (November 9, 2019) – The second-seeded Stonehill College women's soccer team will host the seventh-seeded Southern Connecticut State University tomorrow, Sunday, November 10 at 1 p.m. on Skyhawk Field in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer tournament.
Tomorrow afternoon's match will be the second meeting this fall between the Skyhawks and Owls. Last week, for both teams' final regular season game of the season, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw, as Stonehill's Alex Giardina scored her ninth goal of the season and Paula Nunez of the Owls tied the game with 37 seconds and neither team found the back of the net in the two overtime periods.
Stonehill (11-3-4, 8-1-4 NE10) is making its return to the NE10 Tournament for the third time in four years. Their last appearance in 2018 was short as Assumption College edged the Skyhawks, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. In 2016, Stonehill came in as the fourth seed and went all the way through to the Championship game as they defeated the sixth-seeded Pace University, 2-1. Stonehill is 6-4 all-time in NE10 quarterfinal action, advancing to nine semifinals and four finals, while winning titles in 1993, 1995, and 2016. This is the fourth time that Stonehill has hosted a NE10 Tournament match since last year and before that 1999.
The Skyhawks have also reached NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, reaching No. 3 this season, as well as a United Soccer Coaches National ranking of No. 19 and East Regional ranking of No. 2.
Juniors Kayla Henry and Giardina lead the Skyhawks with 23 and 20 points, respectively as they both have a career high nine goals. Henry also has tallied five assists and Giardina has totaled two and they both have recorded their first-career penalty kicks this season. Freshman Camryn Thompson follows the juniors with 17 points, including eight goals and one assist, while senior Nicole Geraghty is fourth on the team with 16 points with six goals and four assists. Sophomore Megan Giambanco rounds out the five Skyhawks with double-digit points with 13 points tallying five goals and three assists.
Stonehill's defensive unit made up of Kaitlin Brown in net, Isabella Collentro, Tess Erwin, Emily Rosano, and Bella MacNeil have given up 18 goals for a 0.95 goals against, which currently sits third in the Conference.
Erwin earned her second first team award as she is part of the back line that has averaged 0.95 goals again (PHOTO BY: Andrew Katsampes) |
Stonehill also recently saw eight named to NE10 All-Conference teams, including Collentro, Erwin, Henry, and freshman midfielder Emma Slade, who was also selected for the All-Rookie team, led the way on the first team. Giardina and Thompson were tabbed on the second team, while Brown and Geraghty earn third team honors. Head Coach Alex Wilson, in her seventh season received her second NE10 Coach of the Year award after winning it in 2016, as this is the program's fourth.
Southern Connecticut State University (8-6-4, 5-4-4 NE10) most recently appeared in last years' tournament as they lost to Southern New Hampshire University, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. Over their 12-year history in the NE10, the Owls have appeared in four semifinals and one final round game.
The Owls have only seen on member reach double-digit points this season in Kaitlyn D'Amico with her five goals and one assist for 11 points. Johanna Wahlen has totaled eight points with two goals and four assists, while five other Owls have totaled two goals.
In net, Allie Smith has given up 19 goals for a 1.00 goals against average and a 0.844 save percentage. Nadine Hilkert, in the back field for the Owls, earned All-Conference first team honors, while D'Amico was placed on the third team.
The winner of tomorrow's game will advance to a match on Thursday, November 14th for the semifinal round to take on the winner of six-seeded American International College (7-8-2, 6-5-2 NE10) ,and third-seeded Adelphi University (9-5-2, 8-3-2 NE10). The highest remaining seed will host this game.
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.