SJU Athletics Photos

PHILADELPHIA (10/07/03)– Saint Joseph's has been playing field hockey on Finnesey Field since 1975. But only once had the game reached penalty strokes—until Tuesday night. Sophomore Emily Mannion scored the game-winner on the fifth penalty stroke of the second stroke session to give the Hawks a dramatic 4-3 win over Rutgers. Junior Courtney Huff, who made 18 saves in regulation and overtime, came up clutch in the penalty stroke period, including a game-saving stop on RU's final shot. The win, which snapped a six-game losing skid for SJU, looked to be in hand with a 3-1 lead going into halftime. But the Scarlet Knights controlled play in the second half, scoring two goals in the stanza to tie the game. Even after two overtime periods of 7-on-7 action, neither team could find the back of the cage. In the first round of penalty strokes, Rutgers took a 3-2 lead after its fourth stroke. With a chance to put the game away, Huff stuffed RU's final stroker. SJU sophomore Shelly Meier, with the game on the line, blasted home the equalizer to send the game into its second penalty stroke session. The Hawks led off the second stanza, but saw Rutgers take another 3-2 lead after the third round. Senior captain Amie Schmoltze knotted the session up at three. The Scarlet Knights then had a chance to ensure at least another round of stokes in the fourth round, but the shot flew high over the cage. Mannion sent her stroke to the bottom left corner to give SJU a 4-3 lead. Huff then saved the contest with her stop, sending the Hawks and a raucous Hawk crowd into a frenzy. Sophomore Katelyn O'Brien started things off with a goal just over a minute into play. Freshman Nicole Antonini followed ten minutes later off a rebound from an O'Brien shot. RU's Mary Szymonowicz found the back of the cage with 11:22 remaining in the half to bring the Scarlet Knights within one, but freshman Julie Lentz gave SJU a 3-1 lead going into halftime. Rutgers' Megan Cech beat Huff with 17:12 to go in the game and teammate Kamilah Lalani scored the equalizer to send the game into overtime. The visitors held a 29-12 advantage in shots and a 9-3 lead in penalty corners. RU goalie Aga Siemiginowska made five saves in defeat. The stroke session was the first on Hawk Hill since a 4-3 loss to Rhode Island on October 17, 1998. The Crimson and Gray begin Atlantic 10 play this weekend with a trip to New England. SJU battles Rhode Island on Saturday and Massachusetts on Sunday. Both games begin at noon.