PHILADELPHIA – The Explorers opened the game on a 9-1 scoring run as the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team fell to La Salle, 17-6, on Friday evening on Sweeney Field. With the loss, the Hawks conclude the season 5-11 overall and 0-8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. La Salle improves to 8-7 and 4-3 in league play.

Trailing 3-0 after the first seven minutes of play, Saint Joseph's got on the scoreboard as sophomore midfielder Sarah Smith found freshman midfielder Dana Garbinski, who fired in her shot at the 23:12 mark of the first half.

From that point, La Salle would score six consecutive times over the next 14:28 to jump out to a 9-1 lead with 8:44 remaining before the halftime break.

The Hawks took advantage of a La Salle yellow card as sophomore midfielder Katelyn Ambrose scored an EMO goal with 15 ticks on the scoreboard to pull the Crimson and Gray to within seven, 9-2, entering the halftime break.

La Salle scored four of the first five goals of the second half to extend its lead, 13-3, with 21:49 remaining in regulation; freshman defender Aly Gormley scored an EMO goal on a dish from Smith to break up the Explorers' run at the 23:14 mark.

Down by 10, the Hawks strung together a trio of goals as sophomore midfielder Megan Tracy netted her first collegiate score (17:59), senior midfielder Julia Falcone netted her final collegiate score (12:38), on a dish from Tracy, and junior midfielder Kelly Phelan netted her team-leading 34th goal of the season to bring the Hawks to within seven, 13-6, with 7:44 to play.

However, the Explorers would score the final four goals of the game, and that 17-6 score would stand as time expired.

For the game, La Salle held a 35-11 advantage in shots and 23-15 edge in ground balls while Saint Joseph's earned a 13-12 edge in draw controls.

Senior Nora McGeever (5-11, 0-8 A-10) made 10 saves - five in each half - in a full 60:00.

Today's game concludes the 2015 regular season for the Crimson and Gray.

GAME NOTES: Following the game, senior midfielder Julia Falcone and senior goalkeeper Nora McGeever were honored for their dedication and commitment to the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse program over their four-year careers on Hawk Hill... Falcone concludes her collegiate career with 76 career goals and 72 career ground balls in 59 career games played while McGeever made 133 saves - including 118 this season - in her four years on Hawk Hill.