Oct. 21, 2005

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - A four-goal second half explosion, including three tallies in the final 11 minutes propelled Saint Joseph's (10-7, 3-2 A-10) to a crucial 4-3 victory over visiting Massachusetts (6-11, 3-2 A-10) in Atlantic 10 field hockey action on Finnesey Field. The victory was just the second for the Hawks versus UMass all-time and the first since 1995.

A thrilling contest that witnessed SJU rally three times to tie the game, the Crimson and Gray evened the contest at 3-3 with 3:31 left and then registered the game-winner on a penalty corner with only 1:47 remaining in regulation.

Moody scored the game-winner, her first of the season, tallying directly off a corner. The Hawks only corner of the half, Moody blasted the ball past UMass netminder Becky Letourneau with assists from junior Lauren Luft and senior Jackie Aronchick.

Leading up to the Hawks' game-winning goal the two teams took turns exchanging goals.

The Minutewomen thought they had seized momentum after scoring on a penalty corner with time expired at the end of the fist half to take a 1-0 lead at intermission. Jamie Bawden converted off a pass from Kwylan Jaggassar.

O'Brien squared the contest scoring on a breakaway 6:44 into the second half, but UMass answered quickly and went back on top 2-1 just 1:12 later. Again on a corner, UM's Erin Parker knocked in a touch from Bawden after the ball rebounded off the pads of SJU backstop Rebecca Cunfer.

It remained a one-goal game for nearly 16 minutes until SJU found a way to equalize again. Luft was the culprit, netting her eighth goal of the year by deflecting a shot by junior Nicole Antonini into the cage.

Again, however, the Minutewomen responded quickly scoring just 2:18 later. Parker again was the goalscorer, registering the goal with just 8:31 remaining.

O'Brien's second goal of the game and 13th overall on the season allowed St. Joe's to tie the game for a third time at 3-3 with just 3:31 left. Junior Maureen Casserly initiated the play with a free hit from the left side of the circle. Her pass snaked its way through the defense to a wide-open O'Brien at the far post, where she one-timed a shot past Letourneau and into the cage.

Moody would score the game-winner minutes later to lift SJU to victory.

O'Brien's two goals moved her passed Antonini (12 goals) for the team lead, while her 13 taliies are the fifth highest total in school history.

The win snapped a 12-game losing streak by SJU to UMass and was the first over the Minutewomen since Octobr 28, 1995 (a 2-1 overtime win on Finnesey Field).

SJU hosts Rhode Island on Sunday at noon. The team will honor its seniors in pregame ceremonies.