Senior Kelsey Shannahan scored three goals in the Skyhawks upset bid at #1 LIU Post today. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Sileo keeps Pioneers unbeaten with seven points
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (April 12, 2014) – Two-time defending NCAA Division II Champions LIU Post, ranked No. 1 in the Lacrosse Magazine and Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II polls, used a late three goal run to secure an 11-9 victory over Stonehill College, ranked 14th in the Lacrosse Magazine poll and 15th in the IWLCA rankings, in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Hickox Field this afternoon.
Senior Jackie Sileo (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh), the all-time leading scorer in Division II history, led the way for LIU Post with seven points as she posted a goal and six assists, while classmate Katie Rotan (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) netted three goals and added two caused turnovers. Senior Samantha Losco (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) contributed two goals and an assist for three points, with freshman Stefani Vagelatos (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) adding two goals. Senior Morgan Chiarenza (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) chipped in with a goal and assist.
Senior Katie Hannan (Gansevoort, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) made six saves to preserve the win in goal for LIU Post as the Pioneers finished with a 20-19 edge for shots, but converted just 2-of-6 free-position shots compared to a 3-for-3 effort by Stonehill. The Skyhawks also controlled possession with a 14-8 advantage in draw controls. Junior Ashley Armstrong (Northborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) finished with five stops in the Stonehill goal, including one on a free-position attempt.
Senior Kelsey Shannahan (Mendham, N.J./Morris Catholic) led Stonehill with three goals, extending her point streak to 38 games dating back to her freshman season, four ground balls, a draw control and two caused turnovers. Junior Brooke Rudden (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) added a goal and two assists for three points, while classmates Lizzie Lane (Sandwich, Mass./Bishop Stang) and Cassandra McGill (Westborough, Mass./Westborough) each contributed a goal and assist. Lane also chipped in with four draw controls, while juniors Emily Kessel (Kennebunk, Maine/Kennebunk) and Mikayla Couch (Towaco, N.J./DePaul Catholic) as well as sophomore Rebecca Matheson (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) all netted a goal. Matheson also contributed six draws for the Skyhawks.
Junior Brooke Rudden contributed three points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
LIU Post's late three goal run that clinched the victory was the second half of a 6-1 Pioneers run that erased a two goal deficit seven minutes into the second half. Shannahan's third goal of the afternoon forced the seventh tie of the contest (8-8) with 18:07 to play, but Sileo set up Rotan for her 31st goal of the season to break the deadlock for the final time and spur the three goal push. Junior Jenna Pierro (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) gave the Pioneers a two goal lead off a pass from Losco with 15-minutes remaining and then freshman Cara Douglas (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) capped the run with her 19th of the year with 13:38 to play.
Stonehill still had plenty of time, with Matheson getting a goal back with a free-position goal with 5:06 to go, but Hannan made a save and the Skyhawks committed two turnovers after the final LIU Post marker to end the upset bid.
Vagelatos opened the scoring with her first goal of the afternoon off a Sileo feed three and a half minutes into the contest. Stonehill responded with two goals in a two minute span to take its first lead after Couch's 18th goal of the season six minutes into the half. Lane set up Kessel for the Skyhawks opening goal 1:13 after LIU Post's opening tally.
Sileo set up Losco and Rotan for goals 57-seconds apart that put LIU Post back in front with 22:11 remaining in the first half. Shannahan scored two straight at 20:08 and 16:35 to regain the Stonehill lead after a free-position goal. Chiarenza added a free-position marker with 11:52 left to knot the score for the Pioneers, but Lane pushed Stonehill back in front (5-4) with 9:19 remaining before halftime. Sileo sent the game into halftime tied at 5-5 with her 39th goal of the year, assisted by Chiarenza with 1:02 on the clock.
Stonehill scored the first two goals of the second half to take a two goal lead (7-5) after Rudden's 14th marker of the year with 23:07 remaining, assisted by McGill. McGill opened the second half scoring with her 14th of the year a minute in.
Sileo dished out two assists as LIU Post netted the next three goals to reclaim the lead after a free-position goal by Vagelatos with 20:12 to play. Sileo set up Losco with 21:55 remaining and then Rotan 1:20 after that to knot the score at 7-7. Shannahan then gave the Skyhawks their final lead of the afternoon with 18:07 to play before LIU Post went on its game-winning run.
Stonehill (8-5, 7-2 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Merrimack College for a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium at 7 p.m. LIU Post (14-0, 6-0 ECC) hosts University of District of Columbia next Saturday at noon.
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