Saint Joseph's University

MERION STATION, Pa. – A pair of fourth-quarter penalty stroke goals gave the Saint Joseph's field hockey team a lead it wouldn't relinquish as the Hawks topped Villanova, 4-3, on Senior Day at Ellen Ryan Field on Sunday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Villanova (8-6) got on the board first as Adie Minnella tipped home a pass from Gemma Lysaght on a penalty corner midway through the first quarter.
 
• Early in the second, Erika Culp took a pass from Alison Buffington and scored to tie the game, but the Wildcats would go ahead once more through Aimee Largoza on a pass from Minnella with less than two minutes on the clock to give Villanova a 2-1 lead at halftime.
 
• Buffington would bring Saint Joseph's (7-8) level early in the third; after inserting a corner that led to a save from VU's Maddie Sears, Buffington batted the rebound out of the air and into the cage for an equalizer.
 
• The game stayed tied until the fourth, when the Hawks were awarded a penalty stroke; Milou Kluyt converted high and to the keeper's right to give the Hawks their first lead of the day.
 
• Monica Piccioli doubled the advantage with another penalty stroke, this time firing high and to Sears' left.
 
• Villanova's Colleen Finnan converted a penalty corner on assists from Maeve Boston and Molly Zimmerman with six minutes to play, leading to the Wildcats pulling Sears for an extra field player, but the Hawks were able to keep possession of the ball and see out the game for their second consecutive victory.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Sears made eight saves for the Wildcats while Avianna Wagner made three for the Hawks.
 
• Saint Joseph's outshot Villanova 16-13, while the visitors held an 8-6 edge in penalty corners.
 
• After the game, the Hawks honored Buffington, Culp, Kluyt, Cat Arentz, Kiki Bruning, and Brooke James in their annual Senior Day ceremony.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks visit VCU with the top spot in the Atlantic 10 at stake on Friday afternoon.  Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.