Oct. 17, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Thanks to a late goal by freshman Jen Pfeiffer, the Saint Joseph's soccer team earned a hard-fought 2-2 double overtime draw with Fordham Friday night at Finnesey Field.

Trailing 2-1 with less than 10 minutes to play, the Hawks got the ball deep into the right corner of Fordham's half. With the ball near the sidelines, Saint Joseph's freshman Kortney Rhoades passed the ball to Pfeiffer inside the Rams' box. Pfeiffer, gathered the pass, and making one quick turn, blasted a shot into the middle of the netting from eight yards out to tie the game at 2-2 at the 83:29 mark.

From there, both teams had opportunities to end the contest in regulation and overtime. The Hawks' best chance came in the first overtime, as senior Amanda Morrell's shot from 15 yards out curled just outside the right post.

At the other end, Fordham registered five shots in the second extra frame, but SJU junior keeper Megan Bastianelli was there to make the saves.

The Hawks opened the scoring in the seventh minute, taking advantage of a Fordham error inside its own box. With the ball free, Saint Joseph's senior Laura Adams gathered it and found sophomore Lauren Sawyer to her left. Sawyer calmly received the pass and found the lower left corner of the net to put SJU up 1-0 at 6:49.

The lead was short lived for the Hawks as Fordham answered back at 10:09 as Michaela Murphy took a headed ball by a SJU defender inside the Saint Joseph's box and beat Bastianelli to the right corner.

The teams would enter halftime tied at 1-1, but the Rams quickly gained their first lead to start the second half. Fordham's Catherine Huvane played a curving ball from 30 yards out on the right side off a free kick, and found teammate Katie McDermott inside the SJU box. McDermott elevated above the Hawk defense and headed the ball into the right netting to put Fordham up 2-1 at 46:34.

The game, which featured 31 shots and 35 fouls, would remain close before Saint Joseph's broke through to tie the game in the final minutes.

With the draw, the Hawks move to 7-4-3 overall and 2-1-3 in Atlantic 10 play. Fordham moves to 7-4-2 overall and 4-1-1 in conference games.

Saint Joseph's returns to action this Sunday versus city-rival La Salle at 1 p.m.