Hughes totaled two goals and an assist for the Skyhawks attack (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Araneo scores four goals, including three of four for Pioneers in decisive third quarter

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (March 27, 2024) – Sacred Heart University outscored Stonehill College 4-0 in the third quarter on its way to a key 11-7 victory in Northeast Conference women's lacrosse action at Campus Field this afternoon.

Sophomore Maggie Araneo scored three of her game-high four goals in the decisive third quarter as Sacred Heart broke open a one-goal game (5-4) at the half by outscoring Stonehill 4-0 in the frame to carry a 9-4 advantage into the final quarter. Junior Shae Insinga added a pair of goals for the Pioneers who got goals from seven different players, while senior Kelly Nolan chipped in a goal and assist.

Junior Lisa Martin made Sacred Heart's 11 goals stand with six saves, collecting seven ground balls and a caused turnover. Senior Claire Smith made eight of her career-high matching and season-best 15 saves in the first half to keep Stonehill within touch, adding three ground balls. It marks the third-straight game Smith has recorded double-digit saves and fifth time this season overall (seven career).

Senior Molly Mae Hughes and sophomore Natalie Coutu led Stonehill with three points apiece. Hughes recorded two goals and an assist, while Coutu tallied a goal and two assists, with a caused turnover. Junior Sofia D'Agostino also netted a pair of goals for the Skyhawks, collecting four ground balls, three draw controls and a caused turnover, while senior Lilly Leach chipped in nine draws, a goal, ground ball and caused turnover.

How it Happened

• Smith matched her career-high with a season-best 15 saves for the Skyhawks, posting her third-straight double-figure save game (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

  Stonehill struck first with Hughes scoring her first of the day off a pass from Coutu 3:20 into the game,
• Sacred Heart followed with the next two goals for its first lead, as postgrad Emma Kittredge and Nolan both converted free-position goals just 30-seconds apart around the midway point of the first quarter.
• D'Agostino knotted the score for Stonehill with three minutes to play in the first, assisted by senior Abby Ahearn.
• Sacred Heart reclaimed the lead for good with a pair of goals from sophomores Taylor Farace and Ellie Edwards in the first five minutes of the second quarter.
• Hughes added her second to pull Stonehill back within a goal with 9:48 remaining in the first half, but Araneo followed with a free-position goal with 3:25 left to restore the two-goal cushion.
• Coutu closed the Skyhawks deficit to a goal, assisted by Hughes, with 1:17 to play in the half and Smith made two of her four second quarter saves in the final 30-seconds to hold the SHU lead at just a goal (5-4) heading to the second half.
• Sacred Heart took control of the game with a 4-0 third quarter, led by three goals from Araneo. Her first restored the Pioneers two goal cushion 2:09 into the quarter and then junior Maci Black stretched the lead to three (7-4) 91-seconds later, assisted by sophomore Ryann Kearns.
• Araneo followed with her second of the frame 1:15 later and then completed her third quarter hat trick with her fourth of the game with 4:37 to go.
• Sophomore Gabriella Parisi stopped the run for Stonehill 2:38 into the fourth quarter. Despite scoring three goals in the final frame, the Skyhawks would trade goals the rest of the way, with Insinga offering an answer to the visitors first two goals of the quarter to maintain the lead and seal the win.

Noteworthy

• Hughes has multiple goals in six-straight games and eight of Stonehill's nine games overall this season. She is now eight points shy of 200 for her career with 125 goals and 67 assists for 192 points in 55 career games.
• Hughes' 67 career assists are just one shy of cracking the program's career top ten.
• Smith, who matches her career-best save total set against Bryant University in 2023, has made 78 saves this season, surpassing the 71 stops she had in 11 games (nine starts) in 2023.
• D'Agostino scored multiple goals for the fifth time this season, including three of the last four games.
• Coutu posted multiple assists for the eighth time in nine games.

Up Next

Stonehill (3-6, 2-2 NEC) is right back in action on Saturday when it hosts Central Connecticut State University for an NEC matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium at noon. Sacred Heart (4-5, 3-1 NEC), winners of two-straight and three in a row in Conference play, hosts Delaware State University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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