Hawks Defeat Owls, 3-2; Advance to A-10 Championship :: Walter scores game winner; Miller adds two goals

Nov. 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA-SJU twice held one-goal leads only to see Temple tie it up. However, a Kellie Walter goal with 1:39 remaining from a Theresa Barbati cross was the difference in the fourth-seeded Hawks upset win over the top-seeded Owls, 3-2, on Finnesey Field. Saint Joseph's advances to the Atlantic 10 Championship for the second straight season.

Brianne Miller started the scoring for the Hawks with her fourth goal of the season off a penalty corner just 5:25 into the game. Saint Joseph's held the offensive string of play for much of the first half, but Temple broke out of its offensive slump with a counter attack when Dannah Brehm knocked home her tenth goal of the season off a Mandi Ruth cross at 20:26.

SJU didn't let the tie game stand for long as the Hawks regained the offensive pressure they had early on and capitalized when Anne Schreuders fed Miller who tipped in her second goal of the game, fifth of the year 27:28 into the game.

After halftime, the game's intensity increased as the game went back and forth. SJU's early 7-1 shot advantage continued early on in the second half, but the Hawks came up empty. The Owls turned down the field in search of an equalizer.

Temple finally got its chance with a penalty corner with just under three minutes to go. Charise Young scored her second goal of the year with just 2:48 to play off a rebound from the post and a deflection from a SJU defender to tie it, 2-2.

The game seemed destined for overtime after the Temple goal but SJU raced back towards the Owl cage. Barbati gained possession of a loose ball in the corner and dribbled towards the net, flicking a cross in front of the net where Miller swept it in.

Temple didn't have another shot on goal and SJU held on for the 3-2 upset victory.

For the game SJU out-shot the Owls 12-7 and held a slight 7-6 advantage on penalty corners. Rebecca Cunfer was big in the second half, making all five of her saves in the second stanza.

The Hawks improve to 11-8 while the Owls end their season at 15-6.

Saint Joseph's advances to the A-10 Championship and will take on Massachusetts or Richmond at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow on Finnesey Field.