Goffstown, New Hampshire, freshman scores first two goals of collegiate career, including overtime gamewinner, to lead Skyhawks to first NCAA DI win
Hickey named NEC Prime Performer along with Strickulis
NEC Field Hockey Weekly Report
Strickulis |
Hickey |
EASTON, Mass. (September 14, 2022) – Stonehill College saw two members of its field hockey program recognized with weekly accolades from the Northeast Conference for their efforts in the Skyhawks first win over an NCAA Division I program over the weekend the Conference announced.
Freshman forward Makayla Strickulis was named the NEC Rookie of the Week and one of nine NEC Prime Performers in field hockey for the first time in her career, while junior All-American Raegan Hickey joined her on the Prime Performer list. It marks the first weekly honors for the field hockey program in the NEC in Stonehill's first year at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the NEC.
Strickulis scored the first two goals of her collegiate career, including the gamewinner in overtime, to lift Stonehill to its 4-3 triumph over Lindenwood University in the Saint Louis area on Sunday. Her first collegiate goal with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter came off a rebound following a penalty corner to give the Skyhawks a 2-1 lead. Strickulis then struck for the gamewinner with 1:47 to play in overtime after Stonehill had knotted the score at 3-3 late in the third quarter.
Strickulis earns NEC Rookie of the Week honors for the first time after her two goal game at Lindenwood on Sunday (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
Strickulis has started all four games for Stonehill in her first collegiate season and shares the team lead for scoring and goals scored with Hickey. She is also tied for sixth among NEC goal scoring leaders, third for gamewinning goals and tenth in scoring with four points.
Hickey also netted a pair of goals in Stonehill's 4-3 overtime win against Lindenwood on Sunday. Her first goal of the season opened the scoring just 2:06 into the game and then she added a second with 3:51 to play in the third that knotted the score at 3-3 and eventually forced overtime, where Strickulis connected with the gamewinner.
Hickey has also started all four games for Stonehill this season and shares the team scoring lead with two goals and four points. She is tied for sixth among NEC goal leaders and tied for tenth in scoring.
Hickey, named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) and Synapse Sports Division II All-American for Stonehill last fall, has started 21 of 22 games played over two seasons for Stonehill. She has totaled 11 goals and ten assists for 32 career points, netting two gamewinning goals. Hickey, a three-time Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week in 2021 that earned All-NE10 first team and All-Rookie Team honors, finished eighth among NE10 scoring leaders with her team-high 29 points and third in assists with her team-best ten, while adding nine goals (15th NE10).
Stonehill (1-3, 0-0 NEC) is back in action on Friday, when it visits Bryant University for a non-conference matchup at 4:30 p.m. Please note the time change to this contest from the original start time of 6 p.m. The Skyhawks home opener is scheduled for Friday, October 7, when they host Merrimack College for an NEC matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium at 3 p.m.
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