Skyhawks to play in eighth NE-10 semifinal round in program history
|
| Sophomore goalkeeper Amy Wheaton made two saves in net against Southern Connecticut to help Stonehill advance to the NE-10 semifinal round. |
EASTON, Mass. (November 2, 2011) – The fifth-seeded Stonehill College women's soccer team has advanced to the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) semifinal round for the eighth time in program history and will play the no.1 seeded Golden Knights of The College of Saint Rose, currently ranked 15th overall in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Poll, on Friday, November 4 at the Plumeri Sports Complex at 4 p.m.
Admission for Friday's game is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for senior citizens and children and $1.00 for students. The winner of Friday's game will play the winner of #6 Southern New Hampshire University (10-7-2, 7-6-2 NE-10) and #2 Merrimack College (15-2-1, 11-2-1 NE-10) on Sunday, November 6 at the highest remaining seed at a time to be determined later for the NE-10 championship.
Stonehill (11-6-2, 9-5-2 NE-10) advanced to the semifinal round claiming a 3-2 victory over fourth-seeded Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday at Jess Dow Field. The Skyhawks have won four out of their last six contests outscoring opponents 11-6 during that span with two shutouts. In conference play this season, Stonehill tied for first in goals allowed (nine) with Southern Connecticut and Saint Rose. The Skyhawks also led the league in conference play in goals against average (GAA) slightly edging out the no. 1 seeded Golden Knights 0.58 GAA to 0.59 GAA.
Stonehill has appeared in three NE-10 championship games winning two in 1993 and 1995. The Skyhawks defeated Merrimack both times by identical 2-0 scores.
Senior goalkeeper/forward Sarah Hickey (Lee, Mass./Lee) led the Skyhawks offensively against the Owls scoring the first goal of the contest and assisting on another. Junior back Sara Nagle (Manchester, Conn./Manchester) and sophomore midfielder Catherine Kelly (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) also added markers.
Hickey currently ranks first on the team among active players in points with 12 this season having scored four goals in her last two games. Freshman Maddie Manning (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) and sophomores Caitlin Martell (Randolph, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) and Casey Mathews (Mattapoisett, Mass./Old Rochester Regional) follow Hickey in the overall points standings – among active players – in a three-way tie with six points each. Manning and Mathews have two goals and two assists apiece while Martell has scored three markers on the season.
In net, sophomore goalkeeper Amy Wheaton (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) has been vital to the Skyhawks league-leading defense in conference play posting seven shutouts this season.
Wheaton has played 1356:36 minutes overall this fall making 72 saves for an 8-5-2 record. In NE-10 play, Wheaton posted a .903 save percentage which ranks first in the conference.
|
| Jaemie Fasanello has been a key contributor to the Skyhawks defense this season. |
As much as Wheaton has been a strength in the net for Stonehill defensively, the Skyhawks back line consisting of juniors Elizabeth Belanger (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central), Allison Nagle (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) and S. Nagle and sophomore Jaemie Fasanello (East Bridgewater, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) have been vital to a conference leading nine goals allowed and 0.58 GAA this fall in 15 games played. Two out of the four backs have been named Defensive Player of the Week in the conference this season as S. Nagle become the first Stonehill player to earn the honor on September 6 and Fasanello garnered the weekly honor on September 26.
Saint Rose (17-1-1, 13-1-1 NE-10), looking to capture its fifth-straight NE-10 championship this season, advanced to the semifinals defeating #8 Adelphi, 4-0, at Sullivan Field on Tuesday.
The Golden Knights received goals from four different goal scorers while the goalkeeper tandem of Jessica Gerski (Harbor City, Calif./Bishop Montgomery) and Lauren Minkoff (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) teamed up for Saint Rose's 12th shutout this season. Gerski has four shutouts to her credit while the team has eight.
Senior midfielders Christina Cuffari (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial), Brittany Godin (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Arcadia) and Kimberly Morton (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) all scored along with sophomore forward Carmelina Puopolo (Scarborough, Ont./Cardinal Newman).
Saint Rose topped the NE-10 in goals this season scoring 71 markers – 35 more than second place in the league – for an average of 3.7 per game. The Golden Knights are currently on a five a game winning streak outscoring opponents 18-1 during that span.
2011 Northeast-10 Women's Soccer Championship Field
1. Saint Rose
2. Merrimack
3. UMass Lowell
4. Southern Connecticut
5. Stonehill
6. Southern New Hampshire
7. Pace
8. Adelphi
Tuesday, November 1
Quarterfinals
Match 1: #8 Adelphi at #1 Saint Rose
Match 2: #7 Pace at #2 Merrimack
Match 3: #6 Southern New Hampshire at #3 UMass Lowell
Match 4: #5 Stonehill at #4 Southern Connecticut
Friday, November 4
Semifinals - at Higher Seed
Match 5: # 5 Stonehill at #1 Saint Rose, 4:00 p.m.
Match 6: #6 Southern New Hampshire at #2 Merrimack, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 6
Championship – at Higher Seed
Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner, TBA
- www.stonehillskyhawks.com -
