Senior Heather Sullivan scored five goals to lead the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Sullivan's five goals spark Skyhawks to third-straight win
EASTON, Mass. (March 20, 2013) – Stonehill College, ranked tenth in this week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) Division II poll, ran its winning streak to three games and handed Assumption College, among teams receiving votes nationally, its first loss of the season with an 18-7 decision in Northeast-10 Conference women's lacrosse action at Multi-Sport Stadium tonight.
Senior Heather Sullivan (Andover, Mass./Andover) led Stonehill to the victory with five goals and six draw controls on the night, while classmate Kayla Green (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) contributed two goals and two assists for four points. Senior All-American Kelsey Reilly (Hingham, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) and junior Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) both contributed two goals and an assist for three points, with Reilly adding two draw controls.
Freshman Rebecca Matheson (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) scored the first two goals of her collegiate career for Stonehill, adding three ground balls, while sophomore Brooke Rudden (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) chipped in with a goal and assist.
Senior Kayla Green contributed two goals and two assists for four points. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Sophomore Ashley Armstrong (Northborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) posted eight saves in the Stonehill goal. The Skyhawks posted a 26-21 edge in shots, going 1-for-3 on free position attempts, and holding Assumption to 5-of-12 on clear attempts. Sophomore Maggie Rooney (Harvard, Mass./Bromfield) posted five saves over the first 45:43 in net for Assumption, before junior Michelle Monahan (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) collected one stop over the final 14:17 for the Greyhounds.
Assumption, which scored six of its seven goals on free position tries, finishing 6-for-8, was led by sophomore Amy McNeil's (Orange, Conn./Amity) four goals, two ground balls and a caused turnover. Senior Steph O'Rourke (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) added two goals, four ground balls, two draw controls and a caused turnover.
Stonehill got off to a flying start for the third-straight game over the last four days, scoring the first six goals in the opening 15 minutes of the first half to set the early tone. Shannahan scored twice during that stretch, while Green contributed a goal and assist. Assumption responded with the next two goals over the next two minutes to cut the gap to 6-2 with free position goals from O'Rourke and McNeil.
McNeil scored Assumption's lone goal from the run of play to draw the Greyhounds within 7-3 with 10:34 remaining in the half, but Stonehill extended its lead to seven with three goals over a three minute span inside the final 5:34 of the frame. Reilly assisted on Matheson's first career goal to start the run and then added a goal of her own with 2:46 left in the half. McNeil added her third goal of the half with a free position marker with one second on the clock.
Stonehill kept the pressure going in the second half by scoring the first three goals and five of the first six to open a ten goal lead (15-5) after a marker from sophomore Jillian Yung (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) with 17:19 to play. Green contributed a goal and assist during the opening three goal flurry from the Skyhawks in the opening five minutes of the half. After an Assumption goal from senior Michelle Santos (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) with 16:09 remaining, Stonehill closed the win out by netting three of the final four goals.
Stonehill (3-2, 2-0 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday for its Purple & White Game when it closes out its four game week by hosting 13th-ranked University of New Haven for a key NE-10 clash at W.B. Mason Stadium at noon. Assumption (5-1, 2-1 NE-10) visits Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at 4 p.m.
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