March 29, 2013

Box Score

Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore midfielder Julia Falcone scored her team-leading 21st goal of the season to bring the women's lacrosse team to within one goal with 1:16 remaining in regulation, but Temple would win the final draw and maintain possession as time expired to hand the Hawks a 7-6 loss in the Atlantic 10 opener. SJU now stands at 6-4 overall and 0-1 in conference action.

Trailing 2-0 after two quick Temple goals, Saint Joseph's first offensive strike was the result of a brilliant defensive play by graduate student attack Meghan McDevitt. McDevitt battled for a ground ball that was deflected after Temple save to win another offensive opportunity for the Hawks at the 11:43 mark. Just 17 seconds later, SJU would take advantage of a free position opportunity as junior midfielder Val Paolucci hit the back of the net (11:26) to put the Hawks on the scoreboard.

Falcone won the proceeding draw to set up junior midfielder Abby Ananian with her first goal of the game just 36 seconds (10:50) after Paolucci's.

Temple (6-4, 1-0 A-10) saw Charlotte Swavola respond with her first goal of the game with 2:32 remaining in the first to give the Owls a 3-2 advantage heading into the second half.

Falcone and freshman attack Bianca Angstadt netted back-to-back goals for the Crimson and Gray within the first 3:05 (23:38, 21:55) of the second to give the Hawks a 4-3 advantage - and their first lead of the game.

From there, Temple would control the offensive end as the Owls went on a 3-0 run that spanned that next four and a half minutes, with Summer Jaros registering two consecutive goals, as Temple regained the lead, 6-4. However, SJU junior midfielder Michele Granger responded just over one minute later off of a dish from McDevitt to pull the Hawks back to within one, 6-5, with 14:55 remaining in regulation.

Saint Joseph's earned a pair of free position opportunities but was unable to convert as neither team would score over the course of the next 10:31 of action. The Hawks held the Owls to zero shots over that time span while taking two shots themselves - one a free position that went high and one that was saved by Temple's Meghan Clothier at the 6:30 mark.

Swavola would end the Owls' drought as she scored the eventual game-winner with 4:24 left.

Falcone led the Hawks in scoring with two goals and added a team-high two draw controls while McDevitt dished out two assists. Junior defender Brittany Hanrahan picked up three ground balls and caused a team-high three turnovers.

Freshman goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin (5-4) made a pair of saves in a full 60-minute effort.

The Hawks and Owls were even in shots with 15 apiece while SJU held a 17-14 advantage in ground balls. Saint Joseph's was 2-of-3 in free position shots compared to Temple's 1-of-4 but only controlled four of 15 total draws and doubled the Owls' fouls - 38-19.

Saint Joseph's will look to bounce back with a pair of A-10 road games next weekend. The Hawks will face the Dukes of Duquesne next Friday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m. on Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field.