WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 25, 2026) – The Stonehill women's lacrosse team defeated Howard by a score of 13-5 at Greene Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Skyhawks earned a share of the NEC regular-season crown for the second-consecutive season.

Stonehill completes the regular season with an overall record of 11-6 (8-1 NEC) and extends its win streak to eight games, a program-best at the Division I level. Howard falls to 3-13 (2-7 NEC).

STONEHILL HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nina Tremonte tied her season-high with 13 saves in net.
   
• Caitlin Ruggiero and Sophia Gouveia both recorded hat tricks. Gouveia also added six draw controls and two ground balls.
   
• Natalie Coutu tallied two goals and handed out two assists for four points.
   
• Ellison O'Shea caused three turnovers and scooped up a career-best six ground balls.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After Howard struck first to go up, 1-0, Caitlin Ruggiero fired for a goal to tie the game, 1-1, at the 11:05 mark. Minutes later, Ruggiero scored again at 8:21, but the Bison responded to knot the game again, 2-2. With 6:04 left in the first, Grace Murphy converted a free-position attempt to bring the Skyhawks back in front, 3-2. Less than a minute later, Natalie Coutu also scored off a free position, extending Stonehill's lead to 4-2 at 5:20, before Sophia Gouveia tallied a goal with 3:18 left in the opening frame, 5-2.

In the second quarter, Gouveia found the back of the net for the second time at 13:52 to extend the lead to 6-2. Later in the quarter, Abby Hanifin scored on a free-position attempt go put the Skyhawks back on top by four, 7-3, at 4:28. With 26 seconds left in the half, Val Beigel made it 8-3 in favor of Stonehill.

Early in the third, Coutu made it 9-4 with a free-position goal at the 11:45 mark, and then Cameron Flaherty helped the Skyhawks maintain a five-goal lead, 10-5, with a score at 7:58. Emily LaPia tacked on another goal at 7:12, and then Ruggiero capped her hat trick with a goal at 5:35, 12-5. Minutes later, Gouveia tallied a free-position scored with 56 seconds left in the frame to extend the lead to 13-5.

UP NEXT:
Stonehill (11-6, 8-1 NEC) will now prepare for the upcoming NEC tournament, hosted by No. 1 seed Le Moyne on Thursday, April 30 and Saturday, May 2. The second-seeded Skyhawks will face No. 3 seed LIU (10-6, 7-2 NEC) on Thursday.

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