PHILADELPHIA – Backed by an 8-2 second-half run, #20 Massachusetts defeated the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team, 15-5, in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both squads on Friday afternoon on Sweeney Field. With the loss, the Hawks are 1-8 overall (0-1 A-10) while UMass improves to 8-1 overall (1-0 A-10).

The Hawks played a strong first 30:00 and trailed by only four goals heading into the halftime break as the Crimson and Gray held UMass to its second-lowest first-half goal output on the season at 7-3. 

"I'm proud of how we came out today, both offensively and defensively," said head coach Alex Kahoe following the game. "We just have to work on finishing our shots."

Senior midfield captain Mallory Grey led the Hawks with two goals and a team-best four draw controls while freshman midfielder Rebecca Lane added a goal and assist.

Leading 7-3 out of the halftime break, the Minutewomen scored a pair of goals in the first 4:15 to extend their lead, 9-3, at the 25:45 mark.

Just 1:09 later, the Hawks took advantage of an EMO as redshirt freshman attacker Morgan Lamey found Lane, who put away her 12th goal of the year to close SJU's deficit to five, 9-4, with 24:36 to play.

UMass then tore off six of the next seven goals, scoring the 15th with 0:18 seconds remaining in regulation.

For the game, UMass owned a 29-17 advantage in shots and 20-15 edge in ground balls, although the Hawks turned in a 10-8 second-half edge in the latter category.

Junior midfielder Megan Tracy turned in a team-best three ground balls while sophomore midfielder Kate Payne caused a team-high two turnovers.

Senior goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin (1-8, 0-1 A-10) made six saves - all in the first half - and allowed nine goals in the first 34:15. Graduate student goalkeeper Ashley Alden made three saves and allowed six goals in the final 25:45 in her second collegiate appearance in net and first on Hawk Hill.

UMass earned the first goal of the game as Hannah Murphy converted a free position opportunity just 2:57 in, but on the very next play, Grey won possession off the draw and tore down the field, tucking away her eighth goal of the season to even the scoring, 1-1, just eight seconds later.

The Minutewomen scored the next three goals (26:30, 26:20, 18:25), but Grey would score her second unassisted goal of the game at the 9:49 mark to keep the Hawks to within two, 4-2.

UMass' Nicole Troost then scored her third goal of the half and Erika Eipp added her second to extend the Minutewomen's lead to four, 6-2, heading into the final 3:23 of the first half.

Junior attacker Nora McCallion got into the mix, scoring her team-leading 20th goal of the season on a feed from Lane with 2:46 to play, but Eipp found Troost with four ticks left of the scoreboard to put UMass back up by four, 7-3, after the first 30:00 of action.

The Hawks will close out the weekend at Davidson this Sunday, April 3. Opening draw at Richardson Stadium in Davidson, N.C. is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Senior defender Caroline Hagan deflected a UMass pass at the 12:40 mark of the second half to give the Hawks possession and to move her into a tie for first all-time (with Alli MacDonald '12) for career caused turnovers at Saint Joseph's University with 67... McCallion's 20th goal of the season is a single-season career high for the junior, marking the first 20-goal season of her career... Senior attacker Bianca Angstadt and sophomore midfielder Kristen Kelbon made their season debuts.