Green scores five as nation’s stingiest defense quiets Hawks

Kayla Green led the potent Stonehill offense with five goals.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (March 31, 2011) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, notched their eighth consecutive victory Thursday with a 20-5 decision over host Saint Anselm College in a Northeast-10 matchup.

Sophomore attacker Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) led all scorers with five goals, followed by three apiece from sophomore Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) and junior Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional). The Skyhawks allowed just five goals for the second time this week to improve their team goals-against average to 5.38 per game, the best mark in Division II.

Stonehill opened the game on a 5-0 run over the first 15 minutes, bookended by a pair from Green, before the Hawks got on the board with two straight from junior Meghan Smith (Pittsford, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy), who scored four of Saint Anselm’s five goals, and senior Leigh Krzyston (Bedford, N.H./Bishop Guertin). Freshman Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) notched her 10th goal of the season with six minutes remaining in the half to send the Skyhawks ahead 6-2 at the break.

Christine Lanagan and the Skyhawks field the toughest defense nationally in Division II.

Saint Anselm put just four shots on target in the second half as Stonehill outshot the Hawks 27-8 over the final 30 minutes. After the Skyhawks put up three quick goals in the opening minutes, Smith netted three straight on an unassisted strike and two free-position conversions to keep Saint Anselm within four, but it marked the end of the day for the Hawks as the Stonehill defense clamped down to protect an 11-0 Skyhawks run to end the game. Shannahan and Galligan each recorded two caused turnovers, while senior defenders Christine Lanagan (North Dartmouth, Mass./Bishop Stang) and Emily Kerwin (Bristol, R.I./Portsmouth Abbey) collected two ground balls each.

Sophomore goaltender Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) made five saves to earn the decision in net for the Skyhawks. Senior Katherine O’Hara (Norwell, Mass./Norwell) took the loss for Saint Anselm with 14 stops.

Stonehill (8-0, 5-0 NE-10) returns home Saturday to host the University of New Haven at 11:30 a.m.