MEDIA, Pa. – Sophia Amato earned a three-set victory in the sixth singles flight to clinch a 4-3 win for the Saint Joseph's women's tennis team over Lafayette at Springton Tennis Club on Saturday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (1-4) never trailed, taking the early lead with a pair of doubles wins.  Anna Kirk and Stow Weiss notched a 6-2 win in the second flight before Ireland Amato and Sophia Amato came away with a 7-5 victory in the third.

• The Hawks got to the brink of triumph after Amanda Nava took a one-set lead before winning her first-flight matchup due to a retirement and Stow Weiss rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 win in the second.

• Lafayette (6-1) fought all the way back to tie the match at 3-3 with wins in the third, fourth, and fifth flights.

• Sophia Amato would then notch her second win of the night, battling back from a set down to win, 3-6, 6--2, 6-1, and clinch the match for SJU.

HAWK TALK
"The first win for the squad came against a very competitive opponent," head coach Ian Crookenden said.  "The doubles point was crucial, and freshman Sophia Amato was the heroine of the day, winning at #3 doubles and #6 singles to clinch the match.  After losing the first set, she showed real grit and turned the match completely around with great determination.

"Stow Weiss also deserves kudos for winning at both #2 doubles and #2 singles.  I am happy for the team to see their hard work pay off."

UP NEXT
The Hawks are idle until March 10, when they visit Duquesne.

RESULTS

Saint Joseph's 4, Lafayette 3

Doubles
1. Cecelia Lesnick / Samantha Snyder (LAF) def. Paige Conrad / Amanda Nava (SJU), 6-3
2. Anna Kirk / Stow Weiss (SJU) def. Grace Conrad / Melanie Sparhawk (LAF), 6-2
3. Ireland Amato / Sophia Amato (SJU) def. Maureen McCormack / Alyssa Sarver (LAF), 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles
1. Nava (SJU) def. Lesnick (LAF), 6-3, 1-0, ret.
2. Weiss (SJU) def. Snyder (LAF), 6-3, 6-1
3. McCormack (LAF) def. I. Amato (SJU), 6-2, 6-2
4. Jessica Siegel (LAF) def. P. Conrad (SJU), 6-3, 6-3
5. G. Conrad (LAF) def. Alex Kramer (SJU), 6-1, 6-4
6. S. Amato (SJU) def. Sparhawk (LAF), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Game Scores
Singles: Lafayette 52, Saint Joseph's 49
Doubles: Saint Joseph's 16, Lafayette 13
Total: Saint Joseph's 65, Lafayette 65