OLEAN, N.Y. – When the Saint Joseph's men's soccer team needed offense, it leaned on its defense as both center backs proved pivotal in goals that secured a 2-1 win for the Hawks over St. Bonaventure in rainy and gusty weather on Saturday evening.
 
St. Joe's moves to 4-11-1 (2-4-1 Atlantic 10) with the win, while St. Bonaventure falls to 6-6-4 (2-4-1 Atlantic 10. The Hawks sit just outside the playoff spot with seven points, needing a win in the season finale for a chance to make the postseason.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• With the wind at their backs in the first half, the Hawks looked to strike first as within the opening 10 minutes, both David Schwartzman and Bart Kooistra were able to force saves out of the Bonnies goalkeeper.
• The early pressure provided dividends in the 14^th minute from a set piece. A curled in corner kick from Truls Brændvang found the head of Alex Hartmann. The captain powered his effort onto the crossbar, striking the woodwork and just crossing the line before coming back out of play as the side referee signaled for the goal and the Hawks celebrated at the top of the box.
• Despite looking the likelier side to score, the Hawks were caught on a counter attack as Trevor Jackson was called into the action. The Hawk shot stopper got low to parry the effort out and keep St. Bonaventure out of the net.
• Another counter from the Bonnies found the equalizer in the 33^rd minute. Rafael Pereira was on the end of pass from teammate Kenzo Brito, slotting past an onrushing Jackson to level the score.
• Neither team recorded a shot over the final 11 minutes of the half as the rain and wind picked up and stalled either sides' attack.
• As the rain subsided, the hosts looked to take advantage of the wind at their backs to start the second half. The Bonnies outshot the Hawks 5-1 over the course of the first 30 minutes, Jackson forced into two saves to keep it squared at one apiece.
• Another St. Joe's corner kick proved key for the Hawk attack, as this time Hartmann's center back partner proved instrumental in returning the lead to the Crimson and Gray. Schwartzman found open space on the corner before powering his header on target to the back post. A Bonnies defender flung his body to try and and get something on it, but his deflection pushed the attempt into the back of the net past the goalkeeper as the Hawks took their second lead of the evening.
• With the last chance of the game for the Bonnies, a corner kick managed to escape a host of bodies inside the box and found a St. Bonaventure player on the far post. The attacker controlled it and looked to fire it on goal, but Mikkel Andersen flew into the picture to block the attempt out for another corner, one that the Hawks were able to clear as St. Joe's held the hosts out of the net for a 2-1 victory.

 
QUICK NOTES

• Hartmann tallied his second goal of the season, both coming off a header. The defender becomes just the third Hawk to register multiple goals on the campaign.
• Schwartzman, whose header led to the second goal of the night, tallied two shots on the evening. The graduate defender had just one shot all year prior to the match.
• Kooistra led the Hawks with three shots, one of seven Hawks with an attempt on goal.
• St. Bonaventure's held a 11-10 advantage in shots, but St. Joe's tallied a 5-4 margin in attempts on goal. The Bonnies also posted a 9-6 advantage in corners, SJU converting on two of its six set piece attempts.
• Trevor Jackson made three saves to move to 2-7 on the season.

 
UP NEXT

• The Hawks close out the regular season with a must-win game against Saint Louis. St. Joe's host the Bilikens on Saturday, October 28 in a 7 p.m. matchup on Sweeney Field.