Darrell Nets Four Goals, McGrath Adds Goal And Three Assists As Top-Ranked Women's Lacrosse Begins Defense Of NCAA Title And Picks Up 28th Straight Victory With 12-8 Triumph At Fifth-Ranked Limestone

March 6, 2006

STONEHILL WOMEN'S LACROSSE

Monday, March 6, 2006

Saints Field, Gaffney, S.C.

FINAL:STONEHILL 12, LIMESTONE 8

12Total

Stonehill (1-0)66- 12

Limestone (4-1)53- 8

SCORING SUMMARY

STO GOALS:Kristin Darrell (4), Michelle Salmon (2), Mary Maloney (2), Jenny McGrath,

Tracey Hoffman, Michelle Kelly, Christa LaRocco

LC GOALS:Marissa Pesce (4), Melissa Howard (2), Summer Ferraro, Lauryn Wise

STO ASSISTS:McGrath (3), Erin Acone (2), Hoffman, Salmon

LC ASSISTS:Ferraro (2), Howard (2), Pesce

GOALIE SAVES

STO:Lauren Stone-11

LC:Jackie Weaver-16

GAFFNEY, S.C.-- Sophomore All-America Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y.) netted four goals while senior All-America Jenny McGrath (Milton, Mass.) added a goal and three assists for four points as top-ranked Stonehill began defense of its NCAA Division II national championship with a 12-8 non-league victory over fifth-ranked Limestone Monday afternoon at Saints Field.

The visiting Skyhawks (1-0), who have now won 28 straight matches dating back to April 2004, found themselves in an early 4-1 hole before netting five straight markers to settle for a 6-5 advantage at the break, and Stonehill tallied four of the first six goals after intermission, including three off the stick of Darrell, to build a 10-7 edge midway through the second half en route to the triumph.

Freshman Michelle Salmon (East Islip, N.Y.) notched a pair of goals and added an assist for three points in her collegiate debut for Stonehill, which also received a pair of markers off the stick of freshman Mary Maloney (Great River, N.Y.) as well as single goals from sophomore Christa LaRocco (West Islip, N.Y.) and freshman Michelle Kelly (Mendham, N.J.). Junior Tracey Hoffman (Nashua, N.H.) notched a goal and an assist on the afternoon for Stonehill, which also received two assists from senior All-America Erin Acone (Bow, N.H.).

Sophomore Marissa Pesce (West Babylon, N.Y.) paced the host Saints (4-1) in the scoring column with four goals and an assist for five points, while freshman Melissa Howard (Ferndale, Md.) added a pair of goals and two assists for Limestone, which also received a goal and two helpers from sophomore Summer Ferraro (East Setauket, N.Y.) as and a goal off the stick of freshman Lauryn Wise (Pasadena, Md).

Senior All-America Lauren Stone (Guilderland, N.Y.) picked up the win in goal for Stonehill with an 11-save effort, while senior Jackie Weaver (Carthage, N.Y.) made 12 stops in net for Limestone as the Skyhawks outshot the Saints by a 28-14 margin for the match in picking up their second win in three series meetings between the schools.

Stonehill heads to the Nation's Capitol on Thursday afternoon to take on Division I Howard in a non-league match in Washington, D.C. that begins at 4:00 p.m., while Limestone hosts Regis (Colo.) in a non-league outing on Wednesday afternoon at Saints Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.