DAVIDSON, N.C. – Backed by strong all-around performances on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field, the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team defeated Davidson, 10-8, at Richardson Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Hawks improve to 2-8 overall (1-1 A-10) while the Wildcats fall to 4-5 overall (1-1 A-10). The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Hawks. 

Additionally, Saint Joseph's second-year head coach Alex Kahoe earned the first A-10 victory of her career as the Hawks snapped a 10-game conference losing streak dating back to April 27, 2014. 

“I'm really proud of the way our team came out to play today,” said Kahoe following the game. “We were able to capitalize offensively with five different goal scorers. Defensively, we played well as a unit, back by Genevieve [Giblin]'s eight saves.”

Freshman midfielder Rebecca Lane recorded a game-high five points on a game-high four goals and one assist while co-captains Mallory Grey and Nora McCallion added two goals and one assist each.

Of Saint Joseph's 10 total goals, seven were scored on possessions gained off of Davidson turnovers; five of SJU's 10 scoring opportunities began with senior goalkeeper Genevieve Giblin, who caused three turnovers and made two saves that resulted in scoring possessions. 

Trailing 3-2 with 9:21 to play in the first half, the Hawks scored four straight and never lost the lead again en route to their second victory of the season.

Junior midfielder Megan Tracy, who matched a team-high four ground balls and team-high three caused turnovers, made an outstanding read to pick off a Davidson pass that would give SJU possession to begin the momentum of the four-goal run. SJU cleared the ball and junior midfielder Maggie Egan found McCallion to tie the score, 3-3, at 9:21. 

Freshman midfielder Hayley Sabol would win the ensuing draw control to give the Hawks possession again, and just under a minute later, Lane made a quick move from behind the right side of the net and found an open McCallion, who scored her second goal in 51 seconds to put the Hawks back ahead, 4-3. 

Just over three minutes later, Lane picked off Wildcat goalkeeper Dana Stasieluk's clear attempt and, in a one-on-one situation, fired away her second of three total first-half goals with 5:08 to play.

Just 1:10 later, Grey found Lane to put the Hawks ahead for good, 6-3, with 3:58 remaining in first half. 

After an unassisted Davidson score with 27 ticks remaining in the first, Saint Joseph's entered the halftime break with a 6-4 lead, matching its season-best number for first-half goals scored and season-best number for fewest first-half goals allowed.

Both teams were held scoreless in the first 12:06 of the second half before Lane curled around from behind the right side of the net and put away her fourth tally of the game to extend SJU's lead back out to three goals, 7-4, at the 17:54 mark.

Davidson put together a pair of quick scores (13:40, 12:27) to inch to within one, but the Hawks scored three consecutive goals over a span of 3:12 to push SJU back out to a four-goal lead. 

Grey scored twice during that three-goal run. After a hard hit inside the eight meter, the senior captain put her free position shot into the back of the net (10:39), followed by a McCallion-to-Morgan Lamey score (9:07) just over a minute later. 

The third goal of the run came on the heels of an outstanding defensive play from sophomore Kate Payne, who stripped Davidson's Lucy Sexton of the ball. On that possession, freshman midfielder Sinead Brierley found Grey, and the senior put away her second goal within four minutes to put the Hawks ahead 10-6 with 7:27 left.

The Wildcats kept battling, scoring two in the final 2:16, but the Hawks would hold on as time expired. 

Saint Joseph's won the ground ball battle 19-15 while Davidson earned a 13-7 edge in draw controls, and both teams took 24 shots on the day. The Hawks held the Wildcats to just 1-of-6 in free position shots and caused over 50% (9-of-17) of Davidson's total turnovers. 

Giblin (2-8, 1-1 A-10) made eight saves in the full 60:00 and matched a team-best four ground balls and team-best three caused turnovers in the victory. 

The Hawks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as a pair of rookies combined for the first two scores of the game. 

Lane scored her first of the day with a play that started on the defensive end of the field, as Giblin forced a Davidson turnover and pushed the ball up toward the Hawks' offensive end. Lane tore off on a fast break to tuck away her first goal of the game at the 27:11 mark. 

Saint Joseph's was then forced to play down a player after Lane got assessed a yellow card. However, the Hawks executed perfectly as the defensive unit, led by Tracy, senior Caroline Hagan, and sophomore Catie Vivian, forced a Wildcat turnover just over midway through the EMO and maintained possession for the remainder of the penalty time. 

Once at even strength, Egan found Sabol cutting in front of the net for a quick score to extend SJU's early lead to two goals just eight minutes into the game.

Davidson would then score three straight to earn its only lead of the game, 3-2, at the 12:44 mark.

The Hawks return home to host Richmond this Friday, April 9. Opening draw is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Sweeney Field.