Sullivan, Lynott spark offense; defense clamps down on Purple Knights as Skyhawks win NE-10 opener
Heather Sullivan put away four goals and an assist for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Shane Bufano) |
EASTON, Mass. (March 8, 2011) – Stonehill College, ranked eighth in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, opened their Northeast-10 Conference schedule with a commanding 20-1 win over Saint Michael’s College on Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) and junior Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) keyed the Stonehill offense with four goals each, and the Skyhawks also got three apiece from senior Hannah Anderson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) and sophomores Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) and Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./ Londonderry). Junior Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) tallied two goals and two assists to surpass 100 career points, finishing the game with 101.
Sarah Galligan reached the career 100-point mark with an assist in the second half. (PHOTO BY CSI: Photo) |
Stonehill opened the game on a 6-0 run, including two goals and an assist from Sullivan, and dominated possession of the ball early on with nine straight draw controls. Freshman Crystal King (South Burlington, Vt./South Burlington) scored the Purple Knights’ lone goal with ten minutes remaining in the half to make it 6-1, but Sullivan came back 30 seconds later with her third of the day, and Reilly, Green, Galligan and Lynott added four more to give Stonehill an 11-1 lead at the break.
Sophomore goaltender Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) shut out Saint Michael’s in the second half with three saves, as an aggressive Stonehill defense held the Purple Knights to just six total shots on the day. Senior Devin O’Leary (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) and freshman Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) led all players with three caused turnovers apiece, and Shannahan collected a game-high six ground balls.
The Skyhawks closed out the game with nine unanswered goals, including two free-position conversions, to wrap up a 48-6 advantage in total shots. Junior Sandy Palumbo (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) was dealt the loss in net for Saint Michael’s, totaling 17 saves.
Stonehill (2-0, 1-0 NE-10) visits Merrimack College on Thursday at 4 p.m. before heading to Florida for a pair of non-conference matchups against Rollins College and Shepherd University next week.
