March 20, 2009
Box Score
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse shook off a slow start, capping an 18-4 victory by scoring 16 of the game's final 17 goals. Helene Tursi tallied a career-high seven goals, while Jenna Martino had four markers and added an assist.
Villanova (1-6) stormed out of the gate with two quick goals just 1:47 into the game. Tursi cut the lead in half, putting the Hawks on the board at 7:37 off a Julie Mineweaser pass.
Saint Joseph's (4-4) had a tough time finding the equalizer, which didn't come until nearly 12 minutes later when Tursi found the net on an unassisted tally.
Villanova fought back and captured the lead again with 8:48 remaining in the first. That would be the last lead of the game for the Wildcats.
Tursi knotted things up at three 58 seconds later and the combination of Martino and Mineweaser provided three goals in the half's final three minutes to give the Hawks a 6-3 lead.
The Wildcats made fast work of the draw control scoring just 35 seconds into the half to make it a 6-4 SJU advantage. After that is was all Saint Joseph's.
The Hawks ran off 12 unanswered goals, eight of which game in the 10 minutes immediately following the Villanova tally.
During the 12 goal stretch, Tursi scored four of her seven goals, Martino had three of her four, while Mineweaser added one to her three goal tally, Francesca Volpe scored her first two collegiate goals, while Alli MacDonald and Meghan McDevitt chipped in with one goal apiece.
Grace Dinn, Jessica Westlake, MacDonald, and Martino each had an assist during that momentous run.
Suzy Herlihy saw just under 52 minutes in the cage, surrendering fou goals and making nine saves. Kaitlin LaBarbera got her first work of the year, playing 8:12 and making two saves and not allowing a goal.
Martino upped her goals' total to 24, the team's high. She also leads the squad in points with 30, while Tursi's big day propelled her to second on the team in goals with 16. Herlihy lowered her GAA to 8.52 this season.
SJU out-shot Villanova, 39-21 and won more ground balls (18-11). Villanova had a 14-10 advantage on draw controls.
