MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's field hockey team kicked off its spring 2021 campaign on Sunday afternoon, falling to Syracuse, 4-1, at Ellen Ryan Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• After a back and forth start, Saint Joseph's (0-1) cashed in the game's first scoring chance in the final minute of the opening quarter.  Emily Peters sent a shot toward the cage on a corner that caught a deflection and beat SU's Emily Streib to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.  Katy Benton and Lily Santi notched assists on the play.

• The visitors drew level three minutes into the second quarter as SJ Quigley tucked a loose ball past SJU's Robin Bleekemolen to tie the game.

• Syracuse (6-4) went ahead shortly after the break as Charlotte de Vries came out of a scrum in the circle with the ball and fired home to put the Orange in front.

• It remained a one-goal game until the final three minutes, when Chiara Gutsche got her stick on a pair of corner attempts, tipping them home for the game's final goals.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• The Orange outshot the Hawks, 11-7, on the day, with seven of those attempts coming in the second half.  Syracuse also enjoyed a 6-3 advantage in penalty corners.

• Bleekemolen made five saves in her first collegiate start, while Streib made three stops.

• Santi and Celeste Smits got the start in their first collegiate games, while Katelyn Cocco and Julianna Smyth made their Hawk debuts off the bench.  Santi's assist was her first collegiate point.

HAWK TALK
"Our Hawks stepped up to the plate today and competed hard," head coach Lynn Farquhar said.  "We're grateful to be back in action; our first game since November 2019.  We knew facing an experienced and talented Syracuse team, who saw action in the fall, would be a challenge both mentally and physically.  I'm proud of what this team has started and excited for our next steps."


UP NEXT
The Hawks will look to bounce back in their first Atlantic 10 game of the season this Thursday, March 11, at La Salle.