Zinsner and Miller post eight point games as Crusaders score first seven goals on way to sixth-straight win
Hughes had a role in six of the Skyhawks ten goals, scoring three and assisting on three more (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens) |
EASTON, Mass. (March 20, 2024) – College of the Holy Cross grabbed a seven-goal lead after a quarter of play and rode that margin to a 19-10 victory over Stonehill College, running its win streak to six games, in a non-conference women's lacrosse matchup on Timothy J. Coughlin, '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium tonight.
Juniors Sally Zinsner and Isabela Miller each paced Holy Cross with eight point games, while classmate Ella Kittredge scored a game-high five goals and dished an assist for six points on the night. Zinsner totaled four goals and four assists, while Miller tallied three goals and a game-high five assists for the Crusaders, and Kittredge also chipped in four ground balls and two draw controls with a caused turnover in the victory. Senior Lauren Drillock added four goals and an assist, while sophomore Rachel Levy-Smith collected seven draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Senior Molly Mae Hughes had a hand in six of Stonehill's ten goals on the night with three goals and three assists, adding three draw controls. Sophomore Natalie Coutu added a goal and three assists for four points, while senior Lilly Leach netted a pair of goals and collected 12 draws, three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Junior Sofia D'Agostino also added a pair of goals with three ground balls and a caused turnover.
Senior Tori Cini finished with nine saves in goal for Holy Cross, collecting six ground balls and three caused turnovers. Senior Claire Smith matched her season-high with 13 stops in goal for Stonehill with three ground balls and a caused turnover.
Smith matched her season-high with 13 saves, marking her third double-figure save total of the season (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens) |
How it Happened
- Holy Cross scored the first seven goals of the contest to stake out a lead it would not relinquish. Zinsner had a hand in the first three Crusader goals, assisting on the opener by freshman Annabel Brennan 2:11 into the contest and then scoring her first two goals of the night just 20-seconds apart for a three-goal lead with 9:19 left in the opening frame.
- Kittredge followed with two-straight goals for Holy Cross, the second of which was assisted by Miller who had the helpers on the Crusaders final three goals of the quarter in taking a seven-goal lead into the second quarter.
- Sophomore Grace Murphy broke through for Stonehill with her 23rd goal of the year 15-seconds into the second quarter, but Holy Cross followed with three-straight, including two more from Kittredge, the second of which was assisted by Miller who capped the run with a goal of her own for a 10-1 lead just 2:31 into the second.
- Stonehill, who would play even with Holy Cross the rest of the way, scored two of the final three goals of the first half, with Hughes posting a goal and assist, to draw back within eight (11-3) at the break.
- Kittredge opened the second half scoring with her fifth goal of the night 33-seconds into the third quarter, but Stonehill followed with four of the next five goals, including two each from Hughes and Leach to close the gap to six (13-7) after Hughes' third of the game with 5:32 to go in the third.
- Holy Cross would let the Skyhawks get no closer, responding with a three-goal run that ran into the fourth after Drillock's second goal of the run 2:07 into the final quarter to reclaim a nine-goal lead (16-7).
- Senior Abby Ahearn and D'Agostino closed the Skyhawks back within seven with 11:42 still to play, but Holy Cross again had the answer as Miller potted back-to-back markers three minutes apart to push its lead back to nine (18-9) with 7:07 left.
Noteworthy
- Hughes has multiple goals in four-straight games and six of Stonehill's seven games overall this season. She leads the NEC with her 26 goals and 38 points this season in seven games this season, ranking second in assists with 12.
- Coutu, who leads the NEC with her 22 assists this season, has multiple assists in all seven games this season and three-plus in five games.
- Leach has multiple goals in four-straight games and five games this season overall, collecting double-digit draw controls in three games, all coming within the last four.
- Smith's 13 saves match her season-high and is her third double-digit save contest of the season (fifth career).
Up Next
Stonehill (3-4, 2-1 NEC) is right back in action on Saturday when it visits Bryant University for a non-conference matchup at noon. The Skyhawks return to W.B. Mason Stadium next Saturday, March 30, to host Central Connecticut State University for an NEC matchup at noon. Holy Cross (7-2, 2-0 Patriot) hosts Bucknell University on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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.
