Corvino leads a strong group of returnees on defense for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix) |
Skyhawks picked fifth in NE10 preseason poll, ranked 18th in IWLCA Division II preseason poll, 17th in US Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll
NE10 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll Announcement
IWLCA Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll
US Lacrosse Magazine Division II Preseason Poll
EASTON, Mass. (February 9, 2017) – The Stonehill College women's lacrosse team is picked fifth in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll by the league's 14 head coaches the NE10 office announced today.
In addition to its preseason NE10 ranking, Stonehill is ranked in the top 20 of both NCAA Division II national preseason polls released by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) and US Lacrosse Magazine. The Skyhawks collected 111 points to sit in fifth place in the NE10 preseason coaches' poll, with three-time defending Conference champions Adelphi University picked first with 168 points and 12 first place votes. Le Moyne College (158 points) is picked second and received the two remaining first place votes, followed by the University of New Haven (137 pts) in third place and Bentley University (136 pts) in fourth.
Stonehill is ranked in both Division II preseason polls, with a No. 17-ranking from US Lacrosse Magazine and No. 18 in the IWLCA preseason coaches' poll. The Skyhawks are among seven NE10 programs ranked in the US Lacrosse Magazine preseason top 20 poll and one of six in the IWLCA preseason top 20. Ten teams appearing in the US Lacrosse Magazine preseason top 20 poll and nine teams in the IWLCA preseason poll appear on Stonehill's 2017 schedule, which commences on Sunday, March 5, at No. 6/6 Rollins College, in Winter Park, Florida, at 5 p.m.
Stonehill, under the direction of Stonehill Athletic and NE10 Hall of Famer Katie Conover '03 in her tenth season at the helm of her alma mater, returns nine starters and 19 letterwinners from a 2016 squad which finished with a 9-9 record overall, including 7-6 in the NE10 for a sixth place finish and 18th Conference Tournament appearance.
Vetter is the Skyhawks top returning scorer and playmaker in midfield. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Senior All-American Cara Corvino (Dorset, Vermont/Burr & Burton Academy), junior All-American Kelly Healey (Westwood, Massachusetts/Westwood) and senior All-Region forward Elizabeth Vetter (Great River, New York/East Islip) lead the list of returnees for Stonehill. Corvino and Healey, both All-NE10 selections last season, are key members of the Skyhawks defensive unit, which ranked fifth in the NE10 last season with a 9.50 team goals against average with 132 caused turnovers (9th) and 334 ground balls (4th).
Despite losing its top two scorers from 2016, Vetter leads the list of returnees after earning All-NE10 and IWLCA All-North Region honors with 37 points on 29 goals and eight assists, collecting 39 ground balls, a team-high 54 draw controls and 18 caused turnovers last season. Senior Shannon Booth (Pearl River, New York/Nanuet) added 14 goals and an assist for 15 points last season, while junior Taylor Shannahan (Mendham, New Jersey/Morris Catholic) finished with seven goals and four assists for 11 points , adding 37 ground balls, 17 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers.
Junior goalkeepers Kaitlyn Hess (Guilderland, New York/Guilderland) and Bailey Herr (Oakhurst, New Jersey/Ocean Township) return this season after both seeing significant time in goal last season. Hess played the majority of minutes with a 9.11 goals against average and .381 save percentage with 5.1 saves per game in 876:08 over 16 games played (13 starts). Herr played 209:05 over six games (five starts) with four saves per game.
After opening its 2017 season with a pair of games over spring break in Florida, Stonehill's home opener is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, when it hosts No. 3/4 LIU Post at W.B. Mason Stadium at noon. The Skyhawks NE10 opener is four days later at No. 20 Saint Anselm College on March 15 at 7 p.m., with their first home Conference game on Saturday, March 18, against Franklin Pierce University at 1 p.m.
For the second straight year, all home Stonehill women's lacrosse games will be streamed live at stonehillskyhawks.tv. This spring, those games will also be simulcast live via Facebook Live on Stonehill's official athletics Facebook page at facebook.com/StonehillSkyhawks.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
