Top-Seeded Skyhawks Set for Saint Michael's Showdown 

Easton, Mass. - For the second time in last eight days, the Stonehill College Women's Lacrosse team (12-3, 10-0 Northeast-10) will clash with the Saint Michael's Purple Knights (9-6, 6-4 Northeast-10 Conference).  The Skyhawks, who claimed a 17-5 victory over the Purple Knights on April 24th, earned the top-seed in the Northeast-10 Championship Tournament and a first round bye.  Saint Michael's claimed the tournament's fifth seed.  They advanced after upsetting the No.4 seeded Merrimack College Warriors, 19-14, on Wednesday.   

Friday's contest will mark the 14th time Saint Michael's and Stonehill meet.  The two teams share a unique history.  In 1999, Saint Michael's defeated the top-seeded Skyhawks, 10-9, to claim the Conference's first ever Tournament Championship.  The Skyhawks went on to claim eight consecutive Conference Championships from there; however, the blemish still remains. 

In their last match up, senior Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Liza Gross (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) combined for 10 of Stonehill's 17 scores.  Darrell added an assist to match Michelle Kelly's (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) game-high six total points.  As the spring season comes to a close, Kelly, a junior, has a tight grip on the team's top spot for most goals (52), assists (28) and total points (80). 

Two scores each from Kim Berlo and Brynne Curran and a lone goal from Amanda Pelley was all the offense the Purple Knights could muster against the Skyhawks top ranked defense.  Stonehill currently allows a Conference best 6.34 goals per game.  Defenders such as Kristyn Gramzow (Billerica, Mass./Billerica), Jessie Ragnio (Andover, Mass./Andover) and Jackie Craig (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) are responsible for Stonehill's second-ranked unit in caused turnovers (10.20 per game).  Stonehill also has the least team turnovers in the NE-10, only 11.27 a game. 

The Skyhawks' program holds a 12-1 advantage over Saint Michael's.  During this time the women have outscored the Purple Knights, 185-85.   

Stonehill College will kick off their start to the 2008 Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament on Friday at 4:00 p.m.  The contest will be held at W.B. Mason Stadium.