When and Where: March 21, 2023 – Hooksett, N.H. (Ouellette Stadium)
Score: #25 Southern New Hampshire University 20, (RV) College of Saint Rose 15
Records: SNHU 5-1 (1-1 NE10), CSR 4-3 (0-2 NE10)
Senior
Angelina Graziano (Riverhead, N.Y.) registered eight points, including six goals that matched her career high, as the 25th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University women's lacrosse team outlasted the College of Saint Rose, 20-15, Tuesday afternoon at Ouellette Stadium.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Graziano – career-high-matching 6 goals, 2 assists
- Senior Skylar Renaud (E. Waterboro, Maine) – 5 goals, 2 assists, 4 ground balls, 2 draw controls, 2 caused turnovers
- Graduate student Katie Crowther (Wrentham, Mass.) – 1 goal, career-high 5 assists, career-high 6 points
- Junior Shelby Cole (Gilford, N.H.) – 5 goals, 3 ground balls
- Junior Skylar Pietz (Dudley, Mass.) – 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 ground balls, 1 draw controls
- Sophomore Madison Keating (Milford, N.H.) – 2 goals
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Crowther had the Penmen offense rolling to begin the game, as she scored the game's opening goal 1:39 in and then assisted on four of SNHU's next six tallies, with the hosts eventually opening up an 8-0 advantage with 3:51 to go in the first quarter. Renaud led the way with three goals during the stretch, while Cole added a pair, and Graziano and Pietz each chipped in one. Saint Rose would stop the bleeding with 1:51 left and scored again 11 seconds later to trim its deficit to 8-2 at the end of one.
- After Renaud set up Graziano's second of the game 3:00 into the second quarter, the Golden Knights reeled off four straight to slash the gap to three at 9-6 with 5:53 remaining before the break. Graziano would then score three-in-a-row to send the Penmen to the half with a 12-6 advantage.
- Saint Rose would score five of the first six second-half goals to climb within 13-11 with 4:15 to go, but two goals each from Keating and Renaud powered a 5-1 counter-run for SNHU that helped it open up an 18-12 lead with 11:03 to play in regulation. Saint Rose would score two consecutive goals to get within 18-14 with 6:08 to play, but the Penmen scored two of the final three to put it away.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Junior goalkeeper Megan Petko (Monroe, N.Y.) matched her career best with 10 saves for the Penmen.
- Saint Rose goalie Dorothy Gaffney stopped eight shots.
- Saint Rose outshot SNHU, 35-32, including 15-5 in the second quarter.
- The Golden Knights also owned a 25-13 advantage in draw controls, while the Penmen held an 18-15 edge in ground balls.
- Saint Rose was 4-for-8 on its free-position shots, while SNHU went 1-for-3.
- The Penmen forced the Golden Knights into 22 of the game's 34 turnovers.
- Saint Rose was also 14-for-17 on clear attempts, with the Penmen going 14-for-18.
NOTES
- SNHU, which is ranked 25th in the latest ILWomen/Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Poll, is 5-1 for the first time since 2016. Saint Rose is receiving votes in the poll.
- SNHU leads the all-time series with Saint Rose, 2-0.
- The Penmen are outscoring their six opponents this season, 101-47.
- Senior Sydney Todd (Pelham, N.H.) assisted on a Graziano goal just 1:04 before halftime to notch her first career point.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen are back in action Friday (March 24) at 4 p.m. when they travel to take on Franklin Pierce University.
- The next home contest for SNHU is Saturday, April 24 (1 p.m.) when it hosts its Mental Health Awareness Game against No. 3 Pace University.
