Women's Lacrosse

May 2, 2008

Women's Lacrosse Set For Rematch With Top-Seeded Skyhawks


EASTON, Mass. - For the second time in last eight days, the Saint Michael's College Women's Lacrosse team (9-6, 6-3 NE-10) will clash with the Stonehill College Skyhawks (12-3, 10-0 NE-10 Conference). The Skyhawks, who claimed a 17-5 victory over the Purple Knights on April 24th, earned the top-seed in the Northeast-10 Championship Tournament and a first round bye. Saint Michael's claimed the tournament's fifth seed. They advanced after upsetting the No.4 seeded Merrimack College Warriors, 19-14, on Wednesday.

Friday's contest will mark the 14th time Saint Michael's and Stonehill meet. The two teams share a unique history. In 1999, Saint Michael's defeated the top-seeded Skyhawks, 10-9, to claim the Conference's first ever Tournament Championship. The Skyhawks went on to claim eight consecutive Conference Championships from there.

In their last match up, senior Kristin Darrell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and sophomore Liza Gross (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) combined for 10 of Stonehill's 17 scores. Darrell added an assist to match Michelle Kelly's (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) game-high six total points. As the spring season comes to a close, Kelly, a junior, has a tight grip on the team's top spot for most goals (52), assists (28) and total points (80).

Two scores each from Kim Berlo and Brynne Curran and a lone goal from Amanda Pelley was all the offense the Purple Knights could muster against the Skyhawks top ranked defense. Stonehill currently allows a Conference best 6.34 goals per game. Defenders such as Kristyn Gramzow (Billerica, Mass./Billerica), Jessie Ragnio (Andover, Mass./Andover) and Jackie Craig (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) are responsible for Stonehill's second-ranked unit in caused turnovers (10.20 per game). Stonehill also has the least team turnovers in the NE-10, only 11.27 a game.

The Skyhawks' program holds a 12-1 advantage over Saint Michael's. During this time the women have outscored the Purple Knights, 185-85.

The 4 p.m. semifinal contest will be held at W.B. Mason Stadium.