WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Paced by sophomore midfielder Sarah Smith's career-high seven-point effort, the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team downed Monmouth, 14-11, at Kessler Stadium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, SJU improves to 4-2 overall while Monmouth falls to 3-3.

"We're looking to take the team to the next level, and I'm really proud of the team and how hard they're working," said Saint Joseph's head coach Alex Kahoe to Matt Harmon, for ESPN3, following the game. "They're really stepping up to compete for each game that we have."

Smith factored into seven of SJU's 14 goals on the day while junior midfielder Kelly Phelan added one score and a game-high four assists and sophomore attack Nora McCallion added a hat trick.

McCallion scored the first two goals of the game and freshman attack Kristen Kelbon added her first of two on the day to put the visiting Hawks ahead early, 3-0, at the 23:33 mark of the first half. Phelan assisted on McCallion's first goal and Kelbon's score. 

Monmouth scored at the 19:37 mark to close the deficit to two, 3-1, but Smith scored back-to-back goals (17:44, 15:31), the first on a free position shot and the second off of a helper from freshman defender Aly Gormley, to extend SJU's lead to four, 5-1, with 15:31 to play in the first.

From there, Monmouth would string together a 5-1 run, with three of its five goals coming in the form of free position shots, that would tie the game, 6-6, with 1:29 to play before the halftime break. Saint Joseph's senior midfielder Julia Falcone netted SJU's lone goal of that run at the 9:48 mark on a dish from Smith.

Taking advantage of an EMO after a Monmouth yellowcard was charged with 2:23 to play, Smith scored an up goal on a feed from Falcone with 35 seconds to go and followed up with a free position score to put the Hawks back ahead, 8-6, with 13 seconds remaining in the first half.

Smith would factor into SJU's final five goals of its eight-goal first half to propel SJU to an 8-6 lead heading into the halftime break.

Monmouth opened second-half scoring with back-to-back goals (27:06, 22:23) to equalize the score once again, 8-8.

Sophomore defender Maggie Egan converted on a FPS to put the visiting Hawks back up, 9-8, at the 19:49 mark, but Monmouth responded with a FPS of its own to set up a 9-9 tie heading into the final 17:26 of regulation.

From that point, it was all about the Crimson and Gray as SJU jumped out on a 4-0 run sparked by a three-point effort from Phelan. The junior midfielder assisted on Smith's fifth goal of the day at the 16:07 mark, scored her own goal on a free position shot with 13:54 to play, and assisted on Falcone's second score of the day to extend SJU's lead out to three, 12-9, with 12:47 to go.

Kelbon added an unassisted score to extend SJU's lead to four, 13-9, with 5:03 remaining in regulation.

Monmouth chipped back on a pair of free position shots (3:46, 1:11) to pull to within two goals heading into the final minute, but McCallion scored the final goal of the game on a Smith helper with one tick remaining on the clock to secure the 14-11 win for the Crimson and Gray.

For the game, Saint Joseph's owned a 26-22 edge in shots and 17-10 advantage in draw controls while Monmouth earned 18 of the game's 28 ground balls. Smith and Falcone combined for 10 of SJU's 22 total shots with five apiece while junior defender Mallory Grey was good for a career-high six draw controls.

Each team was charged with 20 turnovers apiece and both squads converted on all but one of their clear attempts, with the visiting Hawks going 8-of-9 and the home Hawks going 9-of-10 in clears.

Senior goalkeeper Nora McGeever (4-2) made two saves in a full-game effort to pick up her fourth collegiate win.

Saint Joseph's returns home to host Villanova this Wednesday, March 18. Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Sweeney Field. The game will open a three-game homestand for the Crimson and Gray.