Kelly leads Skyhawks to sixth-straight win with seven points

Boxscore 

RINDGE, N.H. (April 9, 2009) - Stonehill College got four or more goals from four different players in posting a 24-8 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's lacrosse action at Sodexo Field this afternoon.

Senior Michelle Kelly (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) led Stonehill with five goals and two assists for seven points, while classmate Mary Maloney (Great River, N.Y./St. Anthony's) added four goals and two assists for six points. Junior Liza Gross (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) contributed four goals and an assist for five points and freshman Sam Lynott (Holbrook, N.Y./East Sachem) came off the bench to round out the Skyhawks four-goal scorers, also adding an assist for five points. Sophomore Devin O'Leary (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) chipped in with a game-high three assists.

Sophomore Lauren Stille (North Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) led Franklin Pierce with four goals and an assist for five points on the afternoon. Her assist forces a three-way log-jam atop the program's career assist leaders as Stille joins teammate May Stoffer (New Hartford, Conn./Watkinson), who matched the record on Tuesday, and former teammate Celine Stamets (2005-08) with 23. Stille also moves within two goals of second place on the program's career goals chart with 109 in 26 career games played.

Freshman Mary Kate Stille (North Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) supported her sister with two goals.

Senior Justine Ferland (Portsmouth, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) made seven saves in goal for Stonehill, including five in the second half. Freshman Jillian Bolduc (Atkinson, N.H./Timberlane) matched her season-high with 17 saves for Franklin Pierce, including 11 in the first half alone to keep the Ravens in the game.

Franklin Pierce had Stonehill on its heels early, staking out a two goal lead on goals from Lauren Stille and Stoffer, assisted by Stille, within a 24-second span less than four minutes into the contest. Stonehill responded with five-straight goals, including two from Kelly, to take the lead for good.

After Stille's second goal of the game with 14:47 left in the first half, Stonehill reeled off seven-straight goals, three from Maloney - including what would prove to be the game-winner on a free-position shot with 8:33 left in the half, to open a 12-3 lead with 2:08 left in the half.

Franklin Pierce closed the half out with two goals, one from each Stille sister, and then Mary Kate Stille opened the second half with a goal to draw the Ravens within six (12-6) 1:02 into the second half. After the teams traded goals over the next nine minutes, Franklin Pierce was still within six (14-8) after Lauren Stille's fourth goal of the game, but Stonehill took control for good by netting the final ten goals of the match. Gross, Lynott and sophomore Kathryn Ford (Brookhaven, N.Y./Bellport) each scored a pair of goals during the closing run, while Kelly dished two assists.

Franklin Pierce (3-7, 1-5 NE-10) is back in action on Monday for a non-conference clash at Norwich University at 4 p.m. The Ravens return home on Wednesday, April 15, to host Saint Anselm College as part of Pierce Pride Week at the University at 6 p.m. Stonehill (8-1, 8-0 NE-10), now winners of an incredible 88-straight NE-10 contests, visits top-ranked Adelphi University on Saturday at 2 p.m.