Oct. 21, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's field hockey team earned its second straight shutout victory on Sunday afternoon, dropping the crosstown rival La Salle Explorers by a 2-0 score. Junior forward Marisa Pizzi scored the game-winner at the 24:23 mark of the first half, and junior Krista Bordogna added her third goal of the season as insurance midway through the second half. Freshman standout Jen Wrublesky, SJU's leading scorer, assisted on both goals.

Saint Joseph's (9-7, 4-2 Atlantic 10) opened the scoring late in the half, taking a feed from Wrublesky and putting ball behind Explorer goalkeeper Ellen Axelsen. The goal, Pizzi's sixth of the year, put the Hawks ahead 1-0 heading into halftime.

Bordogna scored her goal at the 56:31 mark to double the lead. La Salle (8-11, 1-5 Atlantic 10) kept up the offensive pressure and had multiple chances to score late in the game, but senior goalkeeper Rebecca Cunfer stood tall to preserve the shutout, the 17th of her career. She is now one behind the school record of 18 for a career.

The win, combined with other results around the conference, assured Saint Joseph's a berth in the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship. The tournament, to be held at Finnesey Field, will take place November 2 and 3. Massachusetts, Richmond, and Temple have also clinched spots in the championship this afternoon.

SJU will take on the archrival Villanova Wildcats on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Villanova, Pa.