Reilly scores six, defense locks down as Skyhawks tune up for clash with Adelphi

EASTON, Mass. (April 6, 2011) – Stonehill College, moving up to fifth in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II national poll, put 15 goals on the board in the first half to cruise to a 22-2 victory over Franklin Pierce University in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup.

Sophomore Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) matched her career high with six goals on the day to lead Stonehill’s dominant offensive attack as the Skyhawks posted their seventh 20-goal game. Freshman Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) pitched in three goals along with a game-high five caused turnovers and four ground balls, and junior Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) collected two goals, four ground balls, and four caused turnovers.

With a just a pair of goals allowed, the Skyhawks lower their Division II-leading goals-against average to 5.10 per game, backstopped this afternoon by nine saves from sophomore goaltender Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School), six of them on free-position attempts.

Senior Hannah Anderson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) got things underway for Stonehill in the third minute when she converted a free-position attempt to open an 8-0 run as she and junior Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) netted two goals each and Reilly picked up a goal and an assist. Franklin Pierce freshman Julie Hemphill (Clarkston, Mich./Marian) broke through for the Ravens with 16:28 remaining in the half, but the Skyhawks put up the next seven goals as Reilly, Shannahan and junior Kaitlyn Wood (North Massapequa, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) each scored twice and Galligan added her second of the day to send Stonehill up 15-1 at the break.

Reilly snapped a 16-minute scoring drought in the second half with three straight goals and senior Emily Kerwin (Bristol, R.I./Portsmouth Abbey) netted her first of the year on a laser from the eight-meter arc as Stonehill  went 6 for 11 on free-position attempts. The Skyhawks held Franklin Pierce scoreless in the second half until the final ten seconds of the game, when sophomore Ashley Lamagdeleine (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) sneaked one past Moore before the clock wound down. Junior Jillian Bolduc (Atkinson, N.H./Timberlane Regional) was dealt the loss in net with six saves for the Ravens.

Stonehill (10-0, 7-0 NE-10) heads to #1 Adelphi University on Saturday in a battle of the last two undefeated teams in the NE-10. The game gets underway at 11:00 a.m.

Below: postgame comments from Kelsey Reilly.