Oct. 9, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's freshman Ali Yozwiak's goal in the 89th minute broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Hawks a 2-1 victory Friday evening versus Duquesne at Finnesey Field.

With the game looking as if it were headed to overtime, Saint Joseph's (5-5-3, 2-2-1 Atlantic 10) played the ball up the right win as junior Lauren Sawyer dribbled down the right sideline. Getting past the Duke defense, she touched a pass toward teammate sophomore Jen Pfeiffer the right edge of the Duquesne box. Pfeiffer, who was challenged by Duquesne's goalkeeper, Gabby Morrin, lifted the ball past the sliding keeper towards the net, where Yozwiak gathered the ball and found the back of the net to pust SJu ahead 2-1 at 88:37.

Duquesne (3-8-0, 0-4-0 Atlantic 10) drilled the ball deep into the Hawks' end of the field, but the SJU defense played the ball away to halt any attack and earn the victory.

The two teams started quickly as each would tally a goal within the opening 15 minutes.

The Dukes got on the board in the 11th minute off a set piece. Morrin played the ball into the Saint Joseph's box from 40 yards out, forcing the Hawk defense to scramble for the ball. Inside the scrum, Duquesne's Shaina Geisler recovered the ball and blasted a shot past SJU rookie keeper Christine Neal to give her team a 1-0 lead at 10:59.

The Hawks answered back soon after. Off a pass up the right side from junior Kaitlyn Grimes, Sawyer took the ball to the end line and dribbled past a Duquesne defender towards the goal. Moving towards the middle, Sawyer unleashed a short-sided shot that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1 at 14:31.

From there, both teams had several scoring opportunities, but failed to score until the Hawks' late goal. Each team recorded 11 shots apiece, while the Hawks held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.

Individually, Neal made four saves to improve to 3-5-3 on the year.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Sunday when the Hawks host St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m.