Senior All-American Kathryn Nelson scored all three second half goals for the Skyhawks tonight. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Nelson nets second half hat trick, Curtis notches first career shutout

Senior All-American Kathryn Nelson (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) sparked Stonehill to the win by scoring all three goals in the second half. Junior Jessica Laurendeau (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) and freshman Jennifer Foley (Holden, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) each notched their first collegiate points by dishing assists on the night.

Junior Kaitlyn Curtis (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) made five saves in the cage for Stonehill to notch her first career shutout. Senior Kim Steiner (Little Falls, N.Y./Little Falls) stopped eight shots in goal for American International. Stonehill finished with a 19-6 advantage in shots for the night, including an 11-2 margin in the second half.

After a scoreless first half, Nelson broke the deadlock 2:27 into the second half when she took a pass from Laurendeau and fired a shot into an open net after Steiner was caught out of the cage following a save on the initial shot by sophomore Devin Ingersoll (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry).

Nelson struck again less than four minutes later when she one-timed a pass from the right side by Foley on a breakaway into an open net. She rounded out the hat trick at 43:38 with an unassisted tally off an AIC turnover inside the arc.

Stonehill (1-2, 0-0 NE-10) is right back in action on Thursday when it visits Saint Anselm College for a non-conference clash at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Wednesday, September 14, to host Adelphi University at 4 p.m. American International (1-2, 0-0 NE-10) hosts Saint Anselm on Saturday at 1 p.m.