PHILADELPHIA - Behind goals from sophomore Michaela Finneyfrock and junior Lauren Dimes, the Saint Joseph's women's soccer team opened Atlantic 10 play with a 2-1 win over George Washington on Thursday evening at Sweeney Field.

Looking to extend their eight game unbeaten streak, the Hawks (8-1-1, 1-0-0 A-10) got on the board first at 24:04 on Finneyfrock's first goal of the season. Saint Joseph's freshman Gabrielle Vagnozzi set up the goal, taking the ball to the left side of the GW box before centering a pass that Finneyfrock quickly drilled to lower left portion of the goal to put her team ahead 1-0.

Saint Joseph's extended its lead just before halftime on a similar play. Deep in the Colonials' zone, junior Lindsay Walder found classmate Dimes at the top of the right box. After a quick move, Dimes delivered a laser just inside the left post to extend the Hawks' lead to 2-0 at 40:29.

George Washington cut into the deficit quickly as it began the second half with momentum. Off a failed clear attempt by Saint Joseph's, George Washington's MacKenzie Cowley gathered the ball at the edge of the box and connected for her team-leading seventh goal on the year to make it 2-1 just 51 seconds into the second frame.

Despite pressure from the Colonials, rookie goalkeeper Cameron Perrott and the Hawks' defense made the lead stand from there. Perrott made a pair of saves in earning her eighth win of the year.

For the game, SJU finished with a 10-6 edge in shots with the Colonials edging the host Hawks 5-3 in corner kicks

Saint Joseph's returns to action this Sunday at Fordham at 1 p.m.

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