Oct. 1, 2004

Box Score

AMHERST, MA - Sophomore Megan Schutt scored her first goal of the year in the second half to give the Saint Joseph's women's soccer team a 1-0 win over the University of Massachusetts at Rudd Field. Saint Joseph's improves to 4-5 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic 10, while the Minutewomen fall to 2-6 and 0-2 in the league.

Schutt, last year's Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, took a pass from Kaiti McCaffery in front of the net and was able to slide a shot past UMass goalkeeper Kristin Walker to the far post for the gamewinner at 72:09.

The game was very physical as there were 25 total fouls called, 16 of them against Massachusetts. The first scoring chance by either team came less than four minutes into the game. Schutt received the ball about five yards in front of the UMass net with her back to the goal. She quickly spun around and let loose a shot, but Walker was there for the save. UMass' best chance to score first came with 25:45 left in the first half. Senior Lindsey Fairweather got the ball off a corner kick right in front of the net seven yards out, but her shot sailed over the cross bar.

Walker kept the Minutewomen in the game with two more big saves in the first half. The first came with six minutes left on a header by Jen Harris. Then the second came with just under three minutes left as Ginnette Buffone got the ball inside the box after a corner kick. Her shot was blocked by a UMass defender but it bounced right to Schutt. Schutt ripped a low hard shot headed for inside the right post, but Walker dove and made the save.

UMass had one last chance to tie the game in regulation when Britt Canfield broke in down the right side. As she entered the box, SJU keeper Jen Kuhn came out of the net and Canfield was able to get the ball by her, but the shot ended up in the netting on the right side of the goal.

Both teams took 16 shots in the game and Saint Joseph's had the edge in corner kicks, 8-5. Kuhn had fives saves for the Hawks while Walker made seven saves for the Minutewomen.

The Hawks continue their New England trip on Sunday visiting Rhode Island at 1:00 p.m.