PHILADELPHIA – UMass used a 10-2 run over the first 21 minutes of play to win its fifth consecutive conference game as the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team fell to Massachusetts, 16-7, in Atlantic 10 action on Friday evening on Sweeney Field. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 5-9 overall and 0-6 in the A-10 while the Minutewomen improve to 13-1 overall and 5-0 in league play.

Saint Joseph's freshman defender Aly Gormley scored two first-half goals, while junior midfielder Kelly Phelan and sophomore midfielder Sarah Smith each added pairs of second-half goals.

"Tonight, we played a very talented UMass team," said head coach Alex Kahoe following the game. "This week, we really focused a lot on heart and hustle, playing tough, and battling back. I think that tonight we really did play with a lot of heart and hustle. We completed and kept working hard throughout the game."

UMass scored six goals in the first 9:41 to jump out to a 6-1 lead at the 20:19 mark; Saint Joseph's sophomore defender Maggie Egan got the Hawks on the board with an unassisted score at the 27:35 mark.

Gormley would then score with 17:45 to play in the first half to bring the Hawks to within four, but the Minutewomen tallied four consecutive goals to take a commanding 10-2 lead heading into the final 9:04 of the first half.

Gormley netted her second unassisted goal of the night at the 3:06 mark, but UMass' Erika Eipp would convert on an eight-meter with 2:15 on the clock to give the Minutewomen an 11-3 advantage heading into the halftime break.

A 4-1 UMass run that spanned 12:36 would extend the Minutewomen's lead to 12 goals, 16-4, with 13:01 remaining in regulation; Phelan scored her first of two goals on the night at the 21:13 mark of that run.

Trailing 16-4 with just under 11 minutes to play, the Hawks strung together a trio of scores. Smith converted on an eight-meter with 10:53 to play before Phelan's second goal of the night at the 4:59 mark brought the Hawks to within 10, 16-6. Smith added the final goal of the game with 2:39 remaining in regulation to bring the score to 16-7.

UMass owned the advantages in shots (33-14); SJU's Phelan and Gormley combined for nine of the Hawks' 14 shots. Massachusetts also owned a 19-7 advantage in draw controls and a 19-15 edge in ground balls. The Minutewomen took seven free position shots, converting on three.

Phelan and Gormley combined for 9 of SJU's 14 shots.

In her first collegiate start, sophomore midfielder Megan Tracy scooped up a team- and career-high three ground balls and caused a career-high two turnovers. Classmate Becky Daub was good for two ground balls and a team- and career-high three caused turnovers.

Senior goalkeeper Nora McGeever (5-9, 0-6 A-10) allowed 11 goals and made nine saves in 43:01 in the loss. Junior goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin made two saves and allowed five goals in 16:59.  

Saint Joseph's returns to action this Sunday, April 19 when the Hawks host Davidson at noon on Sweeney Field. The Hawks will close out the 2015 regular season next Friday against La Salle at 4:00 p.m. on Sweeney Field.