PHILADELPHIA – With the game tied 3-3 heading into the second half, the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse squad (5-4, 1-0 A-10) exploded for six straight goals and held the Wildcats to just one score in the final 30:00 en route to an eventual 10-4 victory over Davidson (2-6, 0-1 A-10) in the Atlantic 10 opener on Friday afternoon on a rain-soaked Sweeney Field. Four goals allowed marks SJU's lowest goals allowed number of the spring.

Graduate student Mallory Grey led SJU in points with a goal and a game-high three assists to go with seven draw controls while senior attacker Nora McCallion (3g) and sophomore midfielder Rebecca Lane (2g, 1a) added three-point efforts to the scoring. Sophomore midfielder Hayley Sabol added a goal and matched game-high numbers with five ground balls and three caused turnovers.

"Today is a great A-10 win for us," said head coach Alex Kahoe following the win, SJU's third in a row. "I was really happy with our transition and our clears, as well as our ride. In the second half, we definitely came together more and were able to execute what we needed to, offensively and defensively. Mallory [Grey] was great for us offensively as well as off the draw, and I'm really proud of how our team finished the game today. "

Sparked by McCallion's trio of goals, the Hawks dominated the second half.

McCallion opened up the scoring on an unassisted score (29:12) to put the Hawks back in the lead before Lane converted a free position opportunity (23:26) and freshman midfielder Julia Pash convered on an EMO goal at the 17:13 mark.

Freshman attacker Hope Anhut added her team-leading 25th of the season on a free position opportunity (14:47) before Grey found McCallion twice (11:28, 8:30) for the six-goal advantage.

Davidson's Jordan Wood scored the Wildcats' fourth of the day with 7:39 to play to close the deficit to five goals, but Grey tucked away an EMO score at the 2:16 mark to put the Hawks into double digits.

For the game, Saint Joseph's took 16 shots in each half and held Davidson to a total of 11 for the game. The Hawks also held a 19-16 edge in ground balls and an 11-5 advantage in draw controls, winning six of seven in the first half.

The Hawks forced 21 Wildcat turnovers, including six off of failed clear attempts.

Senior goalkeeper Amelia Deibler (4-3) made a save in each half.

Lane kicked off the game's scoring on a feed from Lane (21:45) to open the game, but Davidson's Sarah Kopp evened things up at the 15:33 mark. Anhut (14:16) and Sabol (10:39) would combine to give the Hawks a two-goal edge, but Davidson's Nicole Pettiglio fired off two (7:03, 0:04) to put the Wildcats on an even playing field heading into the halftime break.

"The first A-10 game really gives us some momentum as we move forward," added Kahoe. "It's always nice to have the first A-10 game as a win."

Saint Joseph's hit the road for a trio of league contests, beginning at UMass (6-3, 1-0 A-10) this Sunday, April 2. Start time at Garber Field is slated for 1:00 p.m.

GAME NOTES: With her three-goal performance, senior attacker Nora McCallion now sits in sole possession of fourth all-time in career points at SJU (153)... Midfielder Rebecca Lane now has 91 career points - as a sophomore.