April 30, 2006

Final Stats

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - It took the full 60 minutes, but the St. Bonaventure women's lacrosse team defeated a feisty Saint Joseph's club 12-10 Sunday afternoon.

The win clinches the third seed for the Bonnies and a rematch against Temple in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championships on Friday. Just two days ago, the Owls handed St. Bonaventure a 19-9 loss.

The brown and white opened a 2-0 lead four minutes in as freshman Katelyn Faas and senior Sarah Dressler hit the back of the net on free position shots. The Hawks quickly tied the game with back-to-back goals over a three-minute span that ended at the 20:16 mark.

Again the Bonnies used the free position shot to build a two-goal lead, 4-2, with 13:41 remaining. Freshman Elizabeth Waples notched the first score followed by senior Courtney Gibbons.

The two teams traded goals until Saint Joseph's scored the half's final two goals to even the score at six heading into the break. Faas tallied both of Bonaventure's goals during the Hawks 4-2 run.

The end of the half momentum stayed with Saint Joseph's early on in the second stanza. The Hawks scored three straight goals to begin the half to take a 9-6 lead.

Just 41 seconds after the third Saint Joseph's goal, something clicked within the St. Bonaventure offense. The Bona attack rolled off the game's next four goals and six of the final seven for the 12-10 final. Gibbons scored the eventual game-winning goal with 9:23 remaining when the Bonnies took an 11-9 lead.

Faas led the way with four goals, bringing her record breaking season total to 53. Gibbons' hat trick is her second of the weekend and fifth of the season. Dressler added two goals while junior Katie Hurley, sophomore Kimberly Ross and Waples each had one tally.

Junior Eileen Gagon started in net for the brown and white. Gagnon made six saves before giving way to sophomore Eboni Preston. The New Windsor, Maryland native, earned the win in cage with six saves in the second period.

The Bonnies will now prepare for their third appearance in the A-10 tournament in the last four years. The George Washington University will host the three-day Championship with all three games being played at Mount Vernon Field in Northwest Washington.