Box Score MERION STATION, Pa. – A pair of second half goals led the Saint Joseph's field hockey team past VCU, 3-2, at Ellen Ryan Field on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore forward Anna Willocks scored twice, while freshman midfielder Pepa Serrano added a pair of assists.
Saint Joseph's (8-4 overall, 4-0 Atlantic 10) dominated the first half, outshooting the Rams 16-3, but it took until the 19th minute for the Hawks to break through. After a VCU turnover deep in SJU territory, the Hawks broke out in transition, and Willocks dribbled into the circle before letting loose on a blast that found the bottom corner of the cage for a 1-0 lead.
VCU (3-7 overall, 1-3 Atlantic 10) equalized in the final minute of the half, however, as Spencer Tossone found Emily McNamara at the top of the circle; McNamara finished from distance to draw the Rams level heading into halftime.
The Rams nearly went ahead early in the second half, but freshman goalkeeper Victoria Kammerinke made a save on McNamara's penalty corner attempt to keep the game tied.
Willocks then tallied her second of the day and her league-leading 17th of the season with 23:17 to go, converting a penalty corner on assists from Serrano and senior midfielder Emily Nonnemacher.
Kammerinke made another save 90 seconds later, turning away an effort from Rebecca Ward, before sophomore back Joely Helder doubled the lead on a pass from Serrano with 19:31 to play.
The visitors did not go quietly, however, as Ward converted on a penalty corner with 1:40 to go to get the Rams back within one, but the Hawks were able to maintain possession and see out the win.
Kammerinke finished the day with four saves, while Chessa Kownurko made eight for VCU. SJU enjoyed a 27-15 advantage in shots, but the Rams held a 10-9 edge in penalty corners.
“It was another tough game against another tough conference opponent,” head coach Lynn Farquhar said. “We're happy with the win, but we have some things to work on. We'll enjoy it tonight, and we'll come back on Tuesday ready to prepare for La Salle on Friday.”
Saint Joseph's improved to 4-0 in the Atlantic 10 for just the second time in school history. The 1995 Hawks won all four of their conference games in the regular season before claiming the program's lone Atlantic 10 title.
The Hawks will host La Salle in a non-conference matchup this Friday at 3:30 p.m.
