Oct. 17, 2010

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Despite conceding a goal in the first minute of play, the Saint Joseph's field hockey team roared back for a 3-2 win over city rival La Salle on Senior Day at Buckley Field on Sunday afternoon. Senior Nicole McCreight scored a goal and added an assist while juniors Therese Doyle and Theresa Testa chipped in with a goal apiece.

La Salle (6-9 overall, 1-2 Atlantic 10) took the offensive initiative right from the start as Gabrielle Nolt scored just 58 seconds into the game to give the Explorers a 1-0 lead.

Saint Joseph's (5-9 overall, 2-1 Atlantic 10) equalized less than five minutes later as Testa sent a long shot past La Salle's Emma Ruth to knot the game at a goal apiece with her first goal of 2010.

With 6:08 remaining in the half, Doyle tallied what would end up being the game-winner. After McCreight inadvertently blocked a shot by Hannah Rogers, she found the loose ball in front of the cage and push it to Doyle, who was wide open for her fourth tally of the season.

Just over two minutes into the second half, McCreight bagged a goal of her own on the counter-attack. Ruth came out of her cage and McCreight maneuvered around her, finding a wide open cage for her 11th score of the season.

Rebecca Chylack got one back for the Explorers with 18:12 to go on a penalty corner, but senior goalkeeper Kelly Swanick and the Hawk defense held firm under increased pressure from La Salle. Senior Katie Maguire made a pair of defensive saves in the game and sophomore Abby Hoover added one. Swanick posted yet another double-digit save performance, stopping 12 La Salle shots on the day, including nine in the second half.

The Hawks honored their seven graduating seniors for their hard work and dedication to the program in a pre-game ceremony. The honorees included Maguire, McCreight, Rogers, Swanick, Caitlyn Crane, Casey Fry, and Jen Wrublesky.

Saint Joseph's plays its final non-conference game of the year on Wednesday night with a 7:15 p.m. start time on the road against Penn.