Kelsey Mahoney scored in the 70th minute, but the Skyhawks could not overcome national #1 Saint Rose. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

Mahoney scores for Skyhawks in defeat

EASTON, Mass. (October 2, 2010) – The Stonehill College women’s soccer team lost a 3-1 decision Saturday to visiting Northeast-10 Conference opponent The College of Saint Rose, ranked first in the current National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II national poll.

Saint Rose got three first-half goals from junior Gianna D’Errico (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury), junior Christina Cuffari (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial), and freshman Carmelina Puopolo (Scarborough, Ont./Cardinal Newman). Senior Amanda Deck (Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) assisted on all three.

Junior Kelsey Mahoney (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) scored the lone goal for the Skyhawks, set up by senior Kirstie St. Martin (Providence, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy). Freshmen Krista Chauvin (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) and Amy Wheaton (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) split time in the net for the Skyhawks, registering no saves.

D’Errico opened the game with a goal in the 10th minute, set up by Deck and junior Nicola D’Errico (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury). Cuffari followed with a blast from the top of the box at 18:21 for a 2-0 Saint Rose advantage and the eventual winner, and Puopolo added a third from Deck in the 38th minute.

Stonehill managed five shots in the second half, and Mahoney netted her third goal of the year from St. Martin in the 70th minute to get the Skyhawks on the board.

Stonehill (5-4-1, 4-3-1 NE-10) plays at Bentley University on October 5 at 3:30 p.m., before returning home to host Assumption College on October 8 at 3:30 p.m.