Nov. 2, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's soccer team played one of its most complete games of the year in Sunday's season finale versus Richmond. The Hawks controlled the pace of the game for most of the contest and earned a 2-0 victory to give SJU its first winning season, 8-7-4, since 2003 (9-8-1).

Saint Joseph's opened a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute as it got the ball deep into the left side of the Spiders' half. Controlling the ball along the left end line, SJU freshman Maggie Lupinski sent a crossing pass through the box, to teammate Lauren Sawyer. Sawyer one-timed the shot to the upper left corner, beating the Richmond goalkeeper Sarah Hilt at 20:44.

The Hawks added their second less than five minutes later. With the ball deep into the right half of the Spider's zone this time, Saint Joseph's played a ball along the end line into the middle of the box, only to have the ball glance off a Richmond (10-9-1, 4-7-0 Atlantic 10) defender and past a drawn-out Hilt to find the back of the net at 24:47.

Up two, Saint Joseph's continued to press, out shooting Richmond 10-4 in the first stanza.

In the second half, junior goalkeeper Megan Bastianelli was solid for Saint Joseph's, making four saves, including a breakaway, to post the shutout.

For the game, SJU out shot Richmond 14-13 and held a 4-3 edge in corners.

The Hawks, who honored their four seniors - Laura Adams, Ashley Bugnar, Allie Dowling and Lauren Stevis - with a pregame ceremony, caps its season with a 3-4-4 mark in conference play.

***Photos from today's match are available at www.sidephotos.com