April 21, 2013

Box Score

Photo Gallery: Senior Day

PHILADELPHIA - Although they outscored George Washington 5-3 in the second half, a 9-3 Colonial first-half advantage would hand the women's lacrosse team (8-8, 2-5 A-10) a 12-8 Atlantic 10 loss in its season finale on Sunday afternoon at Finnesey Field.

George Washington (9-7, 4-3 A-10) went on a 4-0 run that spanned the first seven minutes of the first half before junior attack Abby Ananian got the Hawks on the board with her first tally of the day at the 21:30 mark.

From there, the Colonials would explode for a 5-0 run off of a combined four goals from Nicole Lacey and Rachel Mia to take a 9-1 lead with just over 15 minutes left in the half.

Junior midfielder Val Paolucci then went on her own 3-0 run, all unassisted tallies, with two late first-half goals (7:20, 4:08) and another just 40 seconds into the second to bring the Hawks to within five goals, 9-4, at the 29:20 mark.

Freshman Emily Bowers added a second SJU goal of the half just over two minutes later to close the deficit, 9-6.

George Washington's Lacey scored twice more (22:58, 11:12) to extend the Colonials' lead back to five goals, 11-6.

SJU would score three of the games final four goals, two from the stick of graduate student attack Meghan McDevitt, but the Hawks would be held to the four-goal deficit as GW took the game, 12-8.

Paolucci led the Hawks with three goals while McDevitt (2g) and Ananian (2g, 1a) helped on the offensive end. Playing in her 67th career game, McDevitt broke SJU's all-time career games played record.

Defensively, junior defender Kaitlyn McSwiggan picked up three ground balls and caused three turnovers.

Freshman goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin (7-8, 2-5 A-10) was tagged with the loss, making seven saves in 54:52. Senior Alisha Aquilino got the start in goal.

For the game, George Washington held advatnages in shots (24-22), ground balls (28-20), and draw controls (13-9). The Colonials converted five of six free-position shots in comparison to a 2-of-4 effotr from the Hawks. SJU committed just 11 turnovers while George Washington turned the ball over 18 times.

Prior to this afternoon's home finale, Saint Joseph's celebrated its seniors - Aquilino, Alexa Matthews, Maggie Mauer, and McDevitt - for their committment and dedication to the women's lacrosse program over the course of their careers on Hawk Hill.

The Hawks conclude their season 8-8 overall and 2-5 in the A-10.