MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's field hockey team suffered a heartbreaker at Ellen Ryan Field on Sunday, falling to Drexel, 3-2, after a shootout.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Things started well for Saint Joseph's (7-6) as Talya Harvey sent a pass into the circle for Ava Smith to finish for her 11^th goal of the season just 28 seconds into the game.
 
• Adèle Jardemar then converted on a penalty corner for her second goal of the year to double the lead with nine minutes to go in the first.
 
• Drexel (7-6) got on the board late in the first as Natali Foster scored on a penalty corner.
 
• The game turned into a cagey affair in the middle quarters, but the Dragons pressed on the gas in the fourth, outshooting the Hawks 5-0 and grabbing an equalizer through a Val Van Hellemont deflection on a corner with 67 seconds on the clock.
 
• The Hawks held the majority of possession through the overtime periods, with Smith testing keeper Halle Geiger late in the first extra frame, but neither team hit paydirt and the game was settled via shootout.
 
• Alison Buffington and Fleur Hamers converted for SJU and Drexel, respectively, through the first five shooters for each team.  Hamers found the goal a second time in the sixth round before Geiger made a save to deny the Hawks and give the win to the Dragons.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Paige Kieft made three saves for the Hawks while Geiger made two stops for the Dragons.  Alana Poole got the start and played the opening 15 minutes for Drexel but did not make a stop.
 
• The Dragons held a 9-6 advantage in shots and an 8-7 edge in corners.
 
• It was Alumni and Family Day on Hawk Hill, and that carried over to the pitch as well, as Drexel's Nicole Enslin is the older sister of the Hawks' Alex Enslin.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will head to Virginia for a pair of games.  Saint Joseph's will visit Richmond for a pivotal Atlantic 10 contest on Friday before taking on #7 Liberty on Sunday.