Oct. 5, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's field hockey team played tough on Sunday afternoon but fell to the nationally-ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 3-2, at Drexel's Buckley Field. The Hawks, playing for the second straight day, got goals from freshman Ellen Rowe and junior Kellie Walter.

Saint Joseph's (8-4) opened the scoring early for the second straight game, as Rowe took a long pass from Walter and tipped it past RU goalkeeper Lauren DeCerbo just two and a half minutes into the game. The goal was the first of Rowe's collegiate career.

Rutgers (10-2) equalized seven minutes later on a Brittney Bybel strike off a penalty corner. Seven and a half minutes before the break, the Scarlet Knights took the lead as Bybel set up Katie Feeley for the go-ahead goal.

Jenna Bull scored with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game to put RU up by a pair. The Hawks cut the deficit in half with 3:35 to play when a long shot deflected off a defender and Walter slammed it into the cage. Unfortunately for SJU, there would be no further scoring in the game.

Kelly Swanick played the full 70 minutes between the pipes for the Hawks, making seven saves. DeCerbo notched three for RU, all in the second half.

The Hawks will open Atlantic 10 play on Friday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. contest against La Salle at Buckley Field. SJU will then close its six-game homestand Sunday with a 5:00 p.m. game against West Chester.