Stonehill Skyhawks - Skyhawk Talk 10-30

Field Hockey
Kerri Sullivan		Stonehill captured its first-ever Northeast-10 Conference regular season championship on Friday evening with a 3-0 league triumph over Assumption at W.B. Mason Stadium, as Head Coach Pam Arpe's Skyhawks wrapped up the regular season with an overall mark of 16-3, including a 14-2 slate in Northeast-10 play. Sophomore Kerri Sullivan (Goffstown, N.H.) netted a pair of goals and two assists for six points in three Stonehill victories last week, including the game-winner with 1:30 remaining in the second overtime in last Tuesday's 2-1 league triumph over Bryant at the Bryant Turf Complex in Smithfield, R.I. Sullivan added a goal and two assists in a 4-0 Northeast-10 win over American International last Thursday afternoon at W.B. Mason Stadium, while junior Aly Boulis (Lincoln, R.I.) netted three goals on the week, including a pair in the regular season title clinching triumph over Assumption. Junior Dani Ryder (Gloucester, Mass.) picked up all three wins in goal for the Skyhawks last week, stopping 17 of 18 shots along the way, as Stonehill will serve as the host institution for the 2006 Northeast-10 Field Hockey Championships this weekend at W.B. Mason Stadium. The top-seeded Skyhawks will take on the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal round match between fourth-seeded Saint Michael's and fifth-seeded Bryant in semi-final round play on Saturday morning beginning at 11:00 a.m., and the Northeast-10 Championship match is scheduled for Sunday at Noon. Click here for the Skyhawk field hockey home page!

Football
George Whetstone		Stonehill closed out the home portion of its 2006 schedule last Saturday afternoon by dropping a 14-0 Northeast-10 Conference decision to Southern Connecticut in a contest played in heavy rains and gusting winds at W.B. Mason Stadium. Sophomore Jeffery Payne (West Haven, Conn.) and senior Cliff Mason II (Santa Ana, Calif.) combined for 82 rushing yards on the day for Head Coach Chris Woods's Skyhawks, while sophomore George Whetstone (Westwood, Mass.) paced the hosts defensively with 10 total tackles, including seven solo stops and three for losses of eight yards. Juniors Chris Regan (Hanson, Mass.) and Mike DeBye (Burlington, Mass.) added 10 and nine total tackles, respectively, as well on the defensive side for Stonehill, which falls to 1-8 overall and 1-7 in Northeast-10 play with the decision. The Skyhawks close out the 2006 campaign on Saturday afternoon by heading to Springfield, Mass. to take on American International in a Northeast-10 match-up that kicks off at Noon. Click here for the Skyhawk football home page!

Volleyball
Rebekah Saunders		Junior Rebekah Saunders (Gilford, N.H.) and sophomore Katherine Masson (Acushnet, Mass.) each notched 13 kills to lead Stonehill to a 3-0 Northeast-10 Conference triumph over Southern Connecticut by game scores of 30-26, 30-26 and 30-24 in its 2006 home finale last Saturday afternoon at Merkert Gymnasium. Sophomore Heidi Woerner (North Kingstown, R.I.) chipped in with seven kills and four solo blocks for the Skyhawks, who presented Head Coach Brad Alexander with a win in his final home match after announcing his retirement from collegiate head coaching last Thursday. Freshman Kristen Hordern (Swansea, Mass.) added 37 set assists on the day for Stonehill, which improved to 5-21 overall and 3-10 in Northeast-10 play with the decision. The Skyhawks close out their 2006 slate on Tuesday evening when Stonehill heads to Waltham, Mass. to take on rival Bentley in a Northeast-10 outing that begins at 7:30 p.m. Click here for the Skyhawk volleyball home page!

Women's Soccer
Alex Eckhardt		Stonehill made its first Northeast-10 Conference playoff appearance in five seasons last Tuesday afternoon, as Head Coach Rolando Lopes's seventh-seeded Skyhawks dropped a 2-0 league quarterfinal round decision to second-seeded and eventual tournament champion Franklin Pierce at Sodexho Field in Rindge, N.H. Stonehill had a pair of quality chances to take a first half lead in the match before the host Ravens scored midway through the opening 45 minutes of action, and the Skyhawks nearly tallied the equalizer on a pair of opportunities in the second half before Franklin Pierce tacked on an insurance goal with just over 15 minutes remaining. Junior Alex Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass.) made four saves in goal in the setback for Stonehill, which finishes the season at 6-6-4 overall. Three Skyhawks earned spots on the 2006 Northeast-10 All-Conference squad for their efforts this fall, as junior Lauren Boyd (Sandwich, Mass.) earned first team accolades after leading the team in scoring for the second straight campaign with 11 goals and two assists for 24 points. Fellow juniors Ashley Bourne (Brockton, Mass.) and Meghan O'Brien (Stow, Mass.) were named to the third team all-Northeast-10 squad for their efforts, as Bourne was second on the team scoring list with seven goals and five assists for 19 points and O'Brien established herself as a top threat in the middle with a pair of goals and three assists for seven points. Click here for the Skyhawk women's soccer home page!

Men's Soccer
Joseph Sousa		Stonehill senior midfielder and co-captain Joseph Sousa earned a spot on the 2006 Northeast-10 all-conference squad for his efforts on behalf of Head Coach Jose Gomes's Skyhawks this fall. A native of Shelton, Conn. and a graduate of Shelton High School, Sousa led Stonehill in scoring for the second straight season with five goals and six assists for 16 points, including a pair of game-winning tallies, as the Skyhawks posted their highest single-season win total in seven years this season with an overall mark of 7-11, including a 3-10 slate in Northeast-10 play that included a victory over nationally-ranked Merrimack back in September. Sousa earned third team all-Northeast-10 accolades for his efforts this fall, as he becomes the second Skyhawk to earn all-conference honors in as many seasons, joining former Stonehill standout goalie Chad Etting '06 in earning the award. Click here for the Skyhawk men's soccer home page!

Women's Basketball
Alisha Collins		Stonehill begins the 2006-2007 campaign this weekend when Head Coach Trisha Brown's Skyhawks head to Orlando, Fla. to participate in the 2006 Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Stonehill, which returns nine letterwinners and four starters from last year's 24-7 squad that finished second in Northeast-10 Conference play while advancing to the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional semi-finals, will square off with Augustana (S.D.) in opening round play of the Disney Tip-Off Classic on Friday beginning at Noon. The Skyhawks will face Felician in second round action on Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m. before taking on West Texas A & M in the final game of the tournament on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Stonehill, which returns 2005-2006 Northeast-10 and ECAC Division II Player of the Year Alisha Collins, begins its home schedule on Tuesday, November 21st by hosting Southern New Hampshire in a Northeast-10 outing at Merkert Gymnasium beginning at 5:30 p.m. Click here for the Skyhawk women's basketball home page!

Cross Country
Kelly Chaisson		Both Stonehill cross country squads will compete for their respective 2006 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Championships on Sunday afternoon at Franklin Park in Boston, as Head Coach Karen Boen's Skyhawk men's squad will look to defend its title in the 10K race that begins at 1:30 p.m., while the Stonehill women, fresh off of winning the Northeast-10 Conference championship on October 22nd, will look for their sixth regional crown in the last seven seasons in the 6K race that begins at 2:45 p.m. Both Skyhawk squads are looking to return trips to the NCAA Division II National Championships that will take place on Saturday, November 18th as part of the Division II Fall Sports Festival on the campus of the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. Click here for the Skyhawk men's cross country home page! Click here for the Skyhawk women's cross country home page!