CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Three unanswered goals by the hosts led #9 Virginia past the 13th-ranked Saint Joseph's field hockey team, 3-2, at Virginia's Turf Field on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (4-3) carried the play early, outshooting the Cavaliers 4-1 in the first quarter.  The Hawks took the lead midway through the frame as Celeste Smits picked up a rebound on a penalty corner and put it home for a 1-0 advantage.

• After a defensive second quarter on both sides sent the game into halftime with the Hawks on top, it was another corner early in the third that doubled the SJU advantage.  Hailey Bitters redirected a ball from Freke van Tilburg for her third goal of the season and a 2-0 Hawk lead.

• Virginia (4-3) turned the tide shortly thereafter, converting on two of their five penalty corners in the frame.  Robin Bleekemolen made three saves on consecutive corner opportunities, but Dani Mendez-Trendler eventually cashed in on a second chance to cut the lead in half with four minutes left in the third.

• Three minutes later, another broken corner play led to a goal from Laura Janssen to tie it for Virginia.

• The Cavaliers got the winner early in the fourth on a deflection by Adele Iacobucci off another corner.

• The Hawks were awarded a penalty corner in the final 30 seconds, but after review, the call was overturned and Virginia saw out the win.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Bleekemolen made four saves in the contest, while Jet Trimborn had one for the hosts.

• Virginia enjoyed a 12-5 advantage in shots and a 6-2 edge in corner opportunities; those numbers were 10-1 and 6-1, respectively, in the second half.

HAWK TALK
"Today was a tough battle," head coach Hannah Prince said.  "Virginia is an incredibly fast and fit team, and their ability to transition quickly on both sides of the ball is among the best in the country.  We will refocus for our opponents next weekend."

UP NEXT
The Hawks will play their first home conference game of the season when they host Lock Haven on Friday.