EASTON, Mass. (April 9, 2025) – First-year standouts Caitlin Ruggiero and Meaghan Fealy played a key role in leading the Stonehill College women's lacrosse team to a commanding 18-6 victory over Northeast Conference (NEC) rival FDU on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 8-5 overall and remained perfect in conference play at 6-0, while the Knights fell to 3-10 overall and 2-4 in NEC competition.
 
Highlights

• With a perfect 6-0 record in NEC play, this is the first time in the NCAA Division I era—and the first time since the 2015 season—that the Skyhawks have started conference competition with a flawless 6-0 record.
• The Skyhawks controlled the draw, winning 20 of 28 total draws. Junior Julia Kogan led the team with 10 draw controls on the day, two off her career-high of 12 set against Sacred Heart on March 19.
• Fealy and Ruggiero led the Skyhawks offensively, combing for 11 points on the afternoon. Fealy led the squad with a career-high six points off four goals and two assists, while Ruggiero registered her first career hat trick, netting four goals total and adding an assist of her own.
• Junior Abby Hanifin continued her career offensive season, tallying five points off three goals and two assists.
• Junior Natalie Coutu posted her third straight and seventh overall hat trick this season.
• Junior Gabriella Parisi recorded her first three-point game, while first-year student Neave Bowman registered her second consecutive three-point outing.  
• Sophomore goalkeeper Nina Tremonte picked up her seventh win of the season in goal, where she tallied six saves on the afternoon. In addition, Tremonte surpassed the 100 career saves milestone, sitting at 103 total on the season.

How it Happened
After three minutes of back-and-forth action to open the first quarter of the NEC matchup, Stonehill broke through with the game's first goal at the 12:04 mark. Coutu charged toward the near post and fired a shot over the shoulder of junior goalkeeper Skylar Goodman, giving the Skyhawks an early lead. Less than three minutes later, sophomore Cameron Flaherty doubled the advantage with her 14th goal of the season, converting on a free position opportunity.
 
FDU responded with a goal from sophomore Karly Dillabough with just under seven minutes remaining in the opening quarter. However, Stonehill answered quickly with a trio of goals in rapid succession to extend the lead to 5-1 with 1:57 left in the frame. The Knights closed out the quarter with a free position goal from first-year Adriana Mavlios with just 19 seconds remaining, narrowing the deficit to three.
 
Stonehill dominated the second quarter, erupting for six goals while limiting FDU to a single tally. Leading the offensive surge were two goals apiece from Fealy and Ruggiero, along with individual goals from Coutu and Parisi, helping the Skyhawks build a commanding 11-3 lead heading into halftime.
 
FDU came out aggressive to start the third quarter, scoring twice within the first two minutes. Junior Riley Eaton converted on a free position attempt just 42 seconds in, followed by Dillabough's second goal of the afternoon moments later.
 
Despite the early push, FDU was unable to build sustained momentum. Stonehill quickly regained control, outscoring the Knights 7-1 over the remainder of the contest. Fueling the Skyhawks' dominant second half were two goals each from Hanifin, Ruggiero, and Bowman, along with another score from Fealy, sealing the decisive 18-6 victory.
 
Up Next
Stonehill (8-5, 6-0 NEC) returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Brookville, New York to match up with NEC foe Long Island University. The opening draw control between the Skyhawks and Sharks is set for 12 PM.
 
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