Norton and Smith combine for 25 saves in goal for two teams, while Weber paces Sharks attack with three goals

Smith shined for the Skyhawks with a career-high 17 saves, reaching double-figures for the fifth time in six games (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

EASTON, Mass. (April 10, 2024) – Long Island University rode a five-goal run over a seven-minute stretch between the first and second quarters to a key 13-8 triumph over Stonehill College in a key Northeast Conference women's lacrosse battle on Timothy J. Coughlin, '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon.

The defenses and goalkeepers from both teams shined with LIU junior Mylie Norton and Stonehill senior Claire Smith combining to record 25 saves in the contest and the two teams combining to cause 15 turnovers. Norton made five of her eight saves in the first half as LIU gained a goal cushion it would not relinquish, adding two ground balls, with sophomore Julia Trainor collecting three caused turnovers, eight draw controls, three ground balls and chipping in on attack with a goal and assist for the Sharks. Postgrad Amanda Weber also caused three turnovers to go with four ground balls and two draws.

Smith made seven of her career-high 17 saves in the third quarter as Stonehill stayed within touch and cut into the LIU lead after its five-goal run. She also collected four ground balls and a caused turnover in the contest as she posted double-figure saves for the second-straight game and fifth time over the last six contests. Senior Karly King led the Skyhawks defensive unit with four caused turnovers and three ground balls.

Leach led the Skyhawks attack with three goals and an assist (PHOTO BY Craig Meyers)

Senior Rachel Weber paced the LIU attack with three goals, while sophomore Lindsey Lucia also totaled three points with two goals and an assist as five Sharks finished with multiple goals.

Senior Lilly Leach led the Stonehill attack with a game-high four points with three goals and an assist, adding six draw controls. Sophomore Grace Murphy added a pair of goals for the Skyhawks and collected two ground balls.

How it Happened

• After Leach gave Stonehill the lead 1:37 into the contest with her first of two free-position goals in the game, LIU grabbed the lead with 9:52 left in the opening quarter with markers by junior Ava Taylor and senior Jen Gaffney 61-seconds apart.
• Sophomore Natalie Coutu knotted the score with a free-position goal with 3:02 left in the quarter, but sophomore Alexa Nuzzi pushed LIU back in front with eight seconds left.
• Nuzzi's goal sparked LIU's five-goal run that produced a 7-2 cushion from which Stonehill would not recover as the Sharks struck for four more goals, from four different players in the first eight minutes of the second.
• Trainor capped the LIU run with a free-position goal with 7:01 remaining in the first half, before Stonehill capped the half with three-straight goals, with Leach notching a goal and assist, to close within two (7-5) at the break after a free-position goal from sophomore Abby Hanifin 2:37 before halftime.
• The two teams traded goals in the third quarter, combining for five goals as Lucia scored two goals to stretch the LIU lead to three twice over the first seven minutes of the frame.
• Murphy's first goal of the game pulled Stonehill within two (9-7) with 6:18 to play in the third quarter, but senior Olivia Fantigrossi sent the Sharks into the fourth quarter with a three-goal lead (10-7) with 15-seconds left in the third.

• King contributed four caused turnovers for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

  Fantigrossi's first goal of the game sparked a game-clinching four goal run for LIU with her second of the game capping the run and giving the Sharks a six-goal cushion with 3:13 remaining and sandwiching consecutive goals from Rachel Weber.

Noteworthy

• Smith has double-digit saves in nine games over her career after notching her seventh double figure save total of the year. Her 9.25 saves per game ranks fourth in the NEC and is the fourth-highest season average in program history, surpassing 100 saves in a season for the first time in her career with 111 in 12 games.
• Leach posted her eighth multi-goal game of the season, scoring three-plus goals for the fifth time to reach the 30-goal mark for the second time in her career and giving her 91 goals in 50 career games.
• Leach leads the NEC with 95 draw controls and now holds onto sole possession of second on Stonehill's all-time career list with 283 draws, trailing only Kelsey Reilly, '13 (313) in program history. She is five draws shy of posting just the sixth 100-draw season in program history – her second (101 in 2022).
• Murphy posted her eighth multi-goal game of the season and her 35 goals this season is second in the NEC behind senior teammate Molly Mae Hughes.

Up Next

Stonehill (5-7, 4-3 NEC) is right back in action at W.B. Mason Stadium on Saturday for its Youth Day Game against Delaware State University for an NEC matchup at noon. LIU (6-7, 6-1 NEC) carries a five-game winning streak into Saturday's home matchup with Merrimack College at noon.

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