STORRS, Conn. – The Saint Joseph's field hockey team opened its 2024 season on Friday afternoon, dropping an overtime barnburner at UConn, 5-4.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The hosts opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game as Juul Sauer sent in a shot from the left wing.
 
• Saint Joseph's (0-1) drew level midway through the second quarter as Emma Winther sent a pinpoint pass into the circle from midfield to Alison Buffington; Buffington turned and fired past the keeper for the equalizer.
 
• UConn (1-0) struck with a second left on the clock in the second quarter as Sophia Ugo tallied to give the Huskies a halftime lead.
 
• That lead doubled just a minute and a half into the third quarter on a goal by Juana Garcia before Sauer tallied her second of the day to extend the margin to 4-1 with 5:50 to play in the third.
 
• The Hawks went to work in the fourth.  Lily Santi started things off a minute into the frame on a penalty corner; she inserted the ball before taking a pass from Manu Ghigliotti and tucking it home to cut the deficit to two.
 
• About four minutes later, on another corner, Julia Duffhuis sent a ball to the right post that Erika Culp tipped into the cage to bring the Hawks back within a goal.
 
• Santi brought Saint Joseph's all the way back with 3:16 to go in the fourth, battling for a loose ball and converting for the dramatic tie.
 
• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, Ugo netted her second of the day with 2:39 to go in the first overtime period to give the Huskies the win.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Natalie McKenna earned the win in the cage for UConn, making six saves.  Marith Bijkerk and Shannon McNally shared goalkeeping duties; Bijkerk made two stops, while McNally posted one.
 
• Santi scored twice for the Hawks, marking the ninth multi-goal game of her career.
 
• Saint Joseph's earned nine penalty corners while conceding just three; the Hawks also outshot the Huskies, 14-10, for the game.  The Hawks held 5-0 and 6-0 advantages in those categories in the fourth quarter.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will meet New Hampshire in a neutral-site tilt on Saturday afternoon.