April 11, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse had a late game-tying goal disallowed and couldn't find another equalizer in a 9-8 loss to Massachusetts (4-9, 2-2 Atlantic 10) on Friday afternoon at Finnesey Field. The Hawks (7-6, 2-2 Atlantic 10) couldn't overcome a second half scoring drought as UMass outscored SJU 5-2 to take the win.

With lass than six minutes remaining in the game, the Hawks were fighting for space with the Minutewomen, continually looking for an open shot on net. SJU finally found a clearing when Helene Tursi fired a pass to a cutting Lindsey-Kate McCool who made a spin move while shooting the ball in to the back of the net to tie the game at nine. Or at least seem like the game was tied at nine.

The officials, before restarting play with a draw, called McCool over for a routine stick check. Upon inspection it was deemed that her pocket was too deep and the goal was waved off. The Hawks would have trouble mustering any more offense as UMass ran out the clock and when SJU had chances to tie the game again, they turned the ball over.

The tide of the match changed when SJU, with a 6-4 lead, failed to stop the UMass offense in the early stages of the second half. The Minutewomen tied the game in 1:37 and then went agead for the first time in the game with 19:07 remaining. Saint Joseph's would answer back with a Helene Tursi goal, assisted by McCool. 28 second later, UMass responded as well to go ahead once again.

The Hawks tied the game again when Jessica Westlake connected on an unassisted goal with 11:10 in the second half. Without much delay, UM's Kathleen Typadis scored the eventual game winner with 9:26 remaining in the contest.

In the first half, the two teams battled to a 3-3 score line with 13 and a half minutes to go in the half. The Hawks saw back-to-back goals by Jenna Martino and McCool open a two-goal lead for the first time in the game. UMass cut the lead in half 90 seconds later, while Tursi tallied a score with 3:17 remaining to cap the first half scoring, giving SJU a 6-4 lead.

UMass was led by net minder, Krissy Anderson, who made 12 saves. The Hawks out-shot the Minutewomen 31-20 for the game, but UMass made the most out of their shots.

Saint Joseph's will travel to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne in a crucial A-10 match up with the Dukes on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. UMass travels to La Salle to take on the Explorers on Sunday as well.