PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team (3-6, 0-0 A-10) will look to bounce back from three consecutive losses with a pair of Atlantic 10 games this weekend. The Hawks will first host Richmond (5-4, 0-0 A-10) this Friday, April 4 at 4:00 p.m. on Sweeney Field. On Sunday, SJU will take on #11 Massachusetts at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, Mass. at noon.

Live streaming of all home games, including Friday's A-10 opener, will be available on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network via a subscription to Hawks All-Access.

Sophomore attack Emily Bowers leads the squad on the offensive end with 29 points on 10 goals and a team-best 19 assists while junior midfielder Julia Falcone leads the Crimson and Gray in goals scored with 19 on 29 total shots for a team-best .655 shot percentage heading into Friday. Senior attack Val Paolucci owns 16 points on 12 goals and four assists while sophomore midfielder Kelly Phelan (15G, 2A), junior midfielder Hannah Hutchins (9G, 4A), and freshman attack Nora McCallion (8G, 8A) have also been consistent in SJU's scoring efforts.

Senior defender Brittany Hanrahan leads the back line with 29 ground balls while classmate Allison Heath leads the team with 18 draw controls to go with 15 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers. Hanrahan and Heath have combined with senior Kaitlyn McSwiggan and sophomore Caroline Hagan for 60 of the team's total 128 caused turnovers to lead the nation in caused turnovers per game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin (3-6) sports a 10.12 goals-against average and .447 save percentage in 527:31.

FRIENDS OF JACLYN GAME
The Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse program will be participating in the 2014 Friends of Jaclyn Charity Game in conjunction with Friday's game against Richmond. The game is part of a national fundraising initiative benefiting the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation in support of pediatric brain tumors. The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation has a global vision to provide every child suffering from a brain tumor, the opportunity to receive love and support as they struggle through their everyday challenges.

FoJ seeks to immediately impact the child's life in valuable and constructive ways that will alter their outlook about their situation, whereby giving them hope and courage to fight this disease. By providing these children and their families with teams of dedicated student athletes and coaches who give the children love, support and friendship, improving their quality of life. In turn, the athletes gain a different perspective about life and compassion - the gift of caring for others.

To learn more about FOJ Day via social media, check out the foundation's Twitter account, Facebook page, and/or Instagram account. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Saint Joseph's Women's Lacrosse FOJ Day Page and/or the Friends of Jaclyn Homepage. To read about Saint Joseph's honorary FOJ team member, Carly Roncin, check out the link entitled "Friends of Jaclyn - Carly's Story" on the SJU women's lacrosse homepage.

HOME SWEET HOME: SWEENEY FIELD DEDICATION
Saint Joseph's University will formally dedicate Sweeney Field during a ceremony prior to the men's lacrosse game against Bryant on Saturday, April 5. The ceremony is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. The dramatic expansion of the field includes the addition of 2,300 seats, a stone facade featuring bronze Hawk statues, protective netting, a full-service press box and enhanced sound system.

Formerly Finnesey Field, the new name recognizes the contributions of Sean S. Sweeney '94 (MBA), a member of the University's Board of Trustees and the lead benefactor to the expansion project, which significantly enhances the gameday experience for student-athletes, fans and friends. Originally opened in 1929, the field currently serves as the home of Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse, in addition to the men's varsity lacrosse team and men's and women's varsity soccer team.

LAST TIME OUT
Recap | Box Score
Monmouth's Danielle Rakowitz scored on a free-position shot with eight seconds left in the second overtime to hand the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team a heartbreaking 11-10 double-overtime loss last Wednesday afternoon at Sweeney Field. Sophomore midfielder Kelly Phelan scored a career-high five goals in the loss.

SCOUTING RICHMOND
The Spiders (5-4, 0-0 A-10) enter Friday's contest on Hawk Hill coming off of a 15-3 win over Longwood on Sunday. Richmond is 2-3 on the road this season, including losses to #2 Maryland on February 16 and #9 Virginia on February 19. Emily Doyle (15G, 18A), Charlett Stevenson (16G), and Anna Jeszeck (11G, 7A) spark Richmond's offensive unit while Taylor Blazer owns 25 draw controls, 21 ground balls, and 11 caused turnovers. Emily Boyce (5-4) sports a 9.25 goals-against average and .408 save percentage in 480:00.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE SPIDERS
Saint Joseph's is 1-13 all-time against Richmond with its last win coming in the form of an 11-10 victory in the Atlantic 10 semifinals of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championships back on April 24, 2009.

COMMON OPPONENT
Saint Joseph's and Richmond have both competed against Old Dominion on the road. The Spiders downed the Lady Monarchs, 9-5, on March 5 while the Hawks dropped their road game, 18-11, on March 16.

SCOUTING #11 UMASS
The Minutewomen are 9-1 heading into their Atlantic 10 opener against La Salle on Friday. UMass saw its nine-game win streak snapped as the #10 Minutewomen dropped a 10-6 decision against #7 Northwestern on March 25. Katie Ferris (20G, 25A), Sam Rush (33G, 3A) and Erika Eipp (13G, 15A) lead the Minutewomen on the offensive end of the field while Kelsey McGovern owns a team-best 30 ground balls. Goalkeeper Rachel Vallarelli (9-1) sports a 6.29 goals-against average and .468 save percentage in 553:24.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE MINUTEWOMEN
Saint Joseph's is 2-19 all-time against UMass with its last win coming in the form of a 10-7 victory on April 10, 2005. 

MILESTONE WATCH: PAOLUCCI, BOWERS
Senior attack Val Paolucci is just three points shy of 100 for her career as the senior standout owns 97 career points on 72 goals and 25 assists entering Friday's game against Richmond. Additionally, Paolucci's 25 career assists set her just four helpers shy of cracking SJU's all-time career assists list.

Thanks in part to her school-recording breaking performance of seven assists against Delaware State, sophomore attack Emily Bowers owns 19 assists at this point in the season and ties for seventh with Jenna Martino '09 and Shannon Feite '96 on SJU's all-time list for assists in a single-season.

STARTING IT UP
Seven Hawks have started all nine games thus far. The defensive unit has been consistent with everyday starters in seniors Brittany Hanrahan, Allison Heath, and Kaitlyn McSwiggan and sophomore Caroline Hagan while sophomore goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin has started all nine games in net. On the offensive unit, sophomore attack Emily Bowers and junior midfielder Julia Falcone have consistently sparked the scoring unit through their nine starts.