Sullivan paces Skyhawks with seven goals

Junior Heather Sullivan powered the Skyhawks offense with a game-high seven goals.

EASTON, Mass. (March 21, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked seventh overall in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, earned its first Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) victory of the season with a 22-16 triumph over #15 Saint Anselm College on Wednesday evening at W.B. Mason Stadium.

Junior Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) led the Skyhawks offensively and all scorers with seven markers while classmate Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) added four goals and one helper. Junior Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) had three goals and one assist, senior All-American Samantha Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) notched three markers and dished out one assist. Sophomore Mary Lee Mahony (Yardley, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) scored twice and assisted on one tally while senior Sarah Galligan (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) chipped in with one goal and two helpers. Freshman Mikayla Couch (Towaco, N.J./DePaul Catholic) and classmate Keri Gould (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) also aided the offense with a goal apiece.

For Saint Anselm, senior Meghan Smith (Pittsford, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) compiled six goals, freshman Kaitlyn Stazinski (Pembroke, Mass./Milton Academy) and classmate Marissa Daly (Marshfield, Mass./Thayer) potted four goals and junior Britini Hickman (Farmington, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) scored two markers. Daly, Hickman and Stazinski also recorded one assist each in the contest.

Junior goaltender Rebecca Moore (Marlborough, Mass./St. Mark's School) earned the win (1-0-0) making six saves off the bench for the Skyhawks in 39 minutes and two seconds of action. Freshman starter Ashley Armstrong (Northborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) made two saves in 20 minutes and 58 seconds of play. Freshman Allee Ramzi (Cumberland, R.I./Mount St. Charles) dropped to 3-2-0 overall on the season making six saves.

Stonehill jumped out to an early 7-1 run highlighted by three successful free position attempts from Reilly (28:17), Sullivan (26:05) and Lynott (23:23). The Hawks responded with eight-straight goals to take an 8-7 advantage as Daly led the charge with three markers over the span of 11 minutes and 22 seconds. Smith and Stazinski also registered two goals each during the scoring stretch.

After both teams were held scoreless for over three minutes of play, Green answered for the Skyhawks with a goal at the 5:54 mark sparking a seven goal run which culminated into a 14-9 advantage for Stonehill going into halftime. Lynott followed Green's tally with back-to-back goals just 15 seconds apart (5:33-5:18) to reclaim the lead at 10-9. Sullivan scored the next two goals, Green added her third of the game at 2:33 and Sullivan capped the run at 2:04.

Stonehill broke the game open in the second half to a 20-10 lead, it's largest of the game, on Green's 13^th goal of the season with 15:56 remaining in the half. Stazinski cut into the deficit at 20-12 converting two free position attempts but the Skyhawks held on despite being outscored by a 4-2 margin for the remainder of the contest.

Stonehill controlled possession throughout the game posting a 27-13 advantage in draw controls. Saint Anselm compiled a game-high 24 groundballs and caused seven turnovers. The Hawks also outshot Stonehill, 34-32. The Skyhawks converted nine of their 16 clear attempts while Saint Anselm went 13-for-16 in clear attempts.

Stonehill (3-1, 1-0 NE-10) returns to action tomorrow afternoon against Saint Michael's College in a NE-10 matchup beginning at 3 p.m. Saint Anselm (3-4, 1-2 NE-10) takes on #2 Adelphi University  on Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m.