Junior Lauren Giordano scored the go-ahead goal late in the first half. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Genovese posts eight saves to secure shutout win 

EASTON, Mass. (September 5, 2014) – Stonehill College, ranked seventh in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II preseason poll, got its season off to a winning start for the second straight year with a 2-0 triumph over 5^th-ranked Merrimack College in non-conference field hockey action at Timothy J. Coughlin, '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.

Senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Genovese (Street, Maryland/North Harford) turned away all eight shots on goal she faced to preserve the win for Stonehill and notch her fourth career shutout. She made four saves in each half to claim the win as the Skyhawks finished with a 15-14 edge in shots, including 10-9 on goal, to go with an 8-7 break in penalty corners, including 7-3 in the second half. Junior Madison Davis (San Jose, California/Branham) posted six stops in the Merrimack goal.

Junior Lauren Giordano (Watertown, Massachusetts/Watertown) and freshman

Alexandria Sylvia (Brockton, Massachusetts/Brockton) scored goals in each half

Freshman Alexandria Sylvia scored a goal in her collegiate debut for the Skyhawks.

to provide the Stonehill scoring on the night. Giordano got the Skyhawks on the scoreboard with 5:28 remaining in the first half when senior Jennifer Foley (Holden, Massachusetts/Notre Dame Academy) carried the ball past two defenders and then found her on the right post for a tap-in.

Sylvia provided an important insurance goal when she collected a turnover just seconds after entering the game and broke in one on one with Davis on the right side and then slid a shot under and into the left side of the goal in her collegiate debut. Genovese did the rest from there, picking up three saves over the final 20 minutes to secure the win.

Stonehill (1-0, 0-0 NE-10) is right back in action here at W.B. Mason Stadium on Sunday when it caps Skyhawks Kickoff Weekend by hosting 8^th-ranked East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University at 1 p.m. Merrimack (0-1, 0-0 NE-10) is off until next Saturday, September 13, when it visits Saint Anselm College for a non-conference matchup at 1 p.m.

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