MERION STATION, Pa. – Alison Buffington scored the game's only goal with 10:07 to play in the fourth quarter as the third-ranked Saint Joseph's field hockey team held off #20 Lafayette, 1-0, in the First Round of the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship at Ellen Ryan Field on Friday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (18-3) took control in the first quarter, outshooting the visitors 5-0; the Hawks thought they had an opening goal, but upon referral, the ball was adjudged to have hit off the foot of one of the Hawks and the goal was disallowed.
 
• Neither team was able to muster a shot in a cagey second quarter, sending the game to halftime scoreless.
 
• Lafayette (14-7) had a golden opportunity in the third as Lineke Spaans fired just high and wide of Marith Bijkerk's cage.
 
• SJU had a player-up advantage after a yellow card to Lafayette's India Ralph early in the fourth and the Hawks made it count.  Sol Borensztein fired wide just after the card was issued, and 30 seconds later, the Hawks earned a corner.  Lily Santi inserted, setting up a shot for Julia Duffhuis; Raffi Fragomeni made the save for the Leopards, but Buffington was there for the rebound and fired it high for a 1-0 lead.
 
• The Hawks kept up the pressure, trying to add an insurance goal, but could not convert.  The defense, however, made the goal stand and sent the Hawks into the quarterfinals.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• The Hawks outshot the Leopards 14-1 on Friday, putting 10 of those shots on frame and forcing eight saves out of Fragomeni.  Saint Joseph's also earned six corners without conceding one.
 
• Katelyn Cocco and Celeste Smits tied a program record by appearing in the 92nd game of their respective careers, a mark also reached by Katy Benton '23.
 
• The win is the second NCAA Tournament win in program history; the Hawks previously defeated Wake Forest in the First Round in 2022.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's will meet #13 Princeton, which knocked off #7 Boston College on Friday, in the Second Round on Sunday.  Game time is set for noon at Ellen Ryan Field.