SJU Athletics Photos

PHILADELPHIA (10/19/03) – Coming into this weekend, Saint Joseph's needed a sweep to keep its dream alive of an Atlantic 10 postseason bid. Thanks to a gritty effort against St. Bonaventure, the Hawks are one step closer to becoming the first team in program history to qualify for the conference tournament. Freshman Kaiti McCaffery scored the game-winner with just 50 seconds remaining to give SJU a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over the visiting Bonnies. With the win, St. Joe's (6-6-1, 4-3-0 A-10) moves over the .500 mark in conference play this late in the season for the first time since 1997. McCaffery's goal came minutes after the rookie midfielder went down hard with an apparent knee injury. Just after the one-minute mark passed, freshman Megan Schutt sent a feed across the box to McCaffery, who one-timed it into the top shelf for the game-winner. The Bonnies (5-10-0, 3-4-0), although never really controlling play, had a 2-1 lead after 48 minutes of action. Lisa Nicolla scored the game's first tally on a breakaway in the seventh minute. The senior had 30-yards of real estate before making a move on SJU keeper Nicole DiEnna and sending the ball into the open net. Schutt answered back in the 18th minute to tie the score at one. The Canadian native took a nifty pass from sophomore Kimmy Leigh and despite a tough angle from the left flank, sent a low-liner inside the far post for the goal. Nicola found the back of the net just three minutes after halftime on a similar play to her first goal. A through-ball from Lindsay Ardella left the senior open again with plenty of room in front of her. DiEnna was forced to come out of net and Nicola again had an entire net to work with. Down 2-1, the Hawks began to step up their play. In the 67th minute, Leigh sent a perfect corner kick into the box where junior defender Jen Harris headed it home for the equalizer. It was Harris' first collegiate goal. It appeared as though overtime was in the cards for the contest before McCaffery netted her first collegiate goal. SJU out shot the Bonnies 17-5 and held a 5-3 lead in corner kicks. DiEnna needed to make just one save, while her counterpart Courtney Nelson stopped eight shots. With a goal and an assist today, Schutt moved into second place on the all-time SJU single-season scoring list with 23 points. She needs just seven to tie Ellen Stenrud mark of 30 points set in 1997. The forward is also second in single season goals (nine) behind Stenrud's 12 in 1997. Saint Joseph's now has the most overall and conference wins since the Hawks went 9-8-1 and 4-6-1 in 1999. SJU returns to the road next weekend in two tough A-10 battles. The Hawks will travel to the nation's capital on Friday for a 3 p.m. matchup with George Washington and continue south to Richmond for Sunday's contest.