April 3, 2009

Box Score

OLEAN, N.Y.--The Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse used an 9-0 run to erase a one-goal deficit and top St. Bonaventure, 12-5, on Friday. Meghan McDevitt scored three goals and an assist to pace the Hawks. Suzy Herlihy was terrific in net with 12 saves.

Saint Joseph's (6-6, 2-1 A-10) found themselves down 4-3 midway through the first half, but clawed their way back to take a 5-4 halftime lead despite giving up the first two goals of the game. Five different scorers-Jen Peters, Jessica Westlake, Abby Renninger, Jenna Martino and McDevitt-recorded goals for the Hawks in the first stanza.

In the second half, SJU continued its scoring ways when Peters notched the fastest goal of the season, just nine seconds after the initial draw to make it 6-4.

McDevitt used a Martino pass to make it 7-4 with 27:44 to go and 30 seconds later Helene Tursi scored an unassisted tally. McDevitt completed the hat trick with 26:48 to go, stretching the lead to five at 9-4.

After a scoreless streak of 10:23, Tursi notched her 25th of the season, again unassisted. Peters added another nearly five minutes later as McDevitt earned her fourth point of the day on the assist.

Martino's third goal of the game was marked at 6:24, while St. Bonaventure grabbed another back with 5:21 remaining to make it 12-5.

St. Bonaventure (4-7, 0-3 A-10) was held scoreless by the Hawks' relentless defense for 33:07 (from the 8:28 mark in the first to 5:21 in the second). Saint Joseph's was without two starters in defense as Rae Wojnar and Christine Readinger had to serve a one-game suspension for earning red cards against UMass.

Herlihy's 12 saves were split evenly between the two halves as SJU held St. Bonaventure to its lowest output of the season.

The win broke a three-game losing streak at St. Bonaventure. SJU last won in Olean back in 2001.

Saint Joseph's will continue on the road Sunday at Duquesne in Pittsburgh. Game time is set for noon at Rooney Stadium against the Dukes.