PHILADELPHIA — Alexa Capozzoli and Olivia McCloskey each scored five goals and three Hawks recorded their first career goals as the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team rolled past Duquesne, 25-9, in its Atlantic 10 opener on Sunday afternoon at Sweeney Field.
 
Duquesne opened the scoring on a woman-up opportunity just 1:08 into the contest, but Saint Joseph's quickly responded. Capozzoli found the back of the net a minute and a half later to spark a 9-0 run over the next nine minutes.
 
Eight different Hawks scored during the surge, with Capozzoli the only player to tally multiple goals in the stretch. A late Dukes goal ended the run, but the Hawks still carried a 9-2 lead into the second quarter.
 
Duquesne scored two of the first three goals of the second frame, with Devon Maillet's second strike separating the Dukes' tallies. Capozzoli completed her hat trick with 10:32 remaining in the half, and McCloskey followed a minute later with back-to-back goals to secure her own hat trick and extend the Saint Joseph's lead to 13-4.
 
After a Duquesne goal midway through the period, McCloskey sparked another push for the Hawks, scoring twice during a 3-0 burst over the final eight minutes. She capped the half with a goal with two seconds remaining to send Saint Joseph's into the break with a 16-5 advantage. McCloskey scored four of her five goals in the second quarter and finished the half with all five of her tallies.
 
Saint Joseph's wasted little time extending the lead in the second half. Just 16 seconds after the restart, Riley Miller assisted on Capozzoli's fourth goal of the afternoon. The senior added her fifth goal with 8:33 left in the third quarter to push the Hawks ahead, 18-6.
 
Savannah Saunders added a highlight late in the period, scoring in her collegiate debut with 22 seconds remaining to mark the first of three Hawks to record their first career goal on the afternoon. Saint Joseph's entered the fourth quarter leading 20-7.
 
The Hawks continued their quick-strike offense in the final period, as Miller scored just 10 seconds in to extend the lead to 21-7. Mya Cote followed a minute later with her first collegiate goal on a free-position shot.
 
Emily Smith added a goal with under 10 minutes to play before Sofia Slootsky scored her first career tally moments later. Riley Bittinger capped the scoring with 1:11 remaining as the Hawks secured the 25-9 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Alexa Capozzoli led all players with nine points, scoring five goals and adding four assists. The nine points are tied for the seventh-most in program history, two shy of the program record set by Francesca Donato.
• Olivia McCloskey set career highs with five goals and six points, all scored in the first half.
• Riley Miller, Devon Maillet and Kate Kaptrosky each recorded multiple goals.
• Miller added a career-high four assists and matched a career best with 10 draw controls. She also led the Hawks with two caused turnovers and three ground balls.
• Savannah Saunders, Mya Cote and Sofia Slootsky each scored their first collegiate goal, while Emily Smith recorded her first goal of the season and the third of her career.
• Fourteen different Hawks scored in the win.
• The 25 goals mark the second-most in a single game in program history, trailing only a 26-goal performance against Mercyhurst in 1997.
• Saint Joseph's outshot Duquesne 41-19, including a 33-13 advantage in shots on goal, and won the draw control battle, 24-11.
• Liana Moli made three saves to earn her second win of the season. Annalise Thaler and Tess Talbot each saw time in relief.
• The 16-goal margin is the seventh-largest victory in program history.
• Saint Joseph's has now won 11 straight meetings against Duquesne.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's travels to George Mason for an Atlantic 10 matchup on Saturday, March 14. First draw is scheduled for 12 p.m