HAWKS MAKE FIRST TRIP TO ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS
PHILADELPHIA, PA (11/04/03) – For the first time in program history, the Saint Joseph's women's soccer team will take part in the Atlantic 10 Championships, which begin on Thursday at Richmond's First Market Stadium. Fifth-seeded SJU faces off with fourth-seeded Xavier at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. For game notes, click here.
Dayton (12-5-2) posted a 5-1-1 mark over its final seven A-10 matches to earn the No. 1 seed, while Fordham (11-5-2/7-2-2) enters the Championship as the second seed. The Rams will make their second-ever appearance in the A-10 tourney and first since 1996 after establishing program records in overall (11) and Conference (seven) wins.
Richmond (9-8-2/7-3-1), the defending Atlantic 10 champions, enters the Championship as the No. 3 seed after earning its third consecutive berth in the A-10 Tournament. The Spiders will face No. 6 Rhode Island on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
URI (8-8-2/6-4-1) won six of its final eight contests to earn its second consecutive A-10 Championship bid. The Rams are led by sophomore forward Melanie Kasparek, the leading scorer in the Conference with 32 points.
Xavier (11-7-1/7-4-0) is the fourth seed and enters the Championship riding a five-match winning streak. The Musketeers will vie for their first A-10 title since 2000 and third in the last six seasons. XU will take on No. 5 Saint Joseph's on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
SJU (9-7-1/7-4-0) concluded the regular season with the most Conference wins in program history while establishing team records for assists (27) and points (85) in securing its first-ever berth in the Atlantic 10 Championship. Despite having an identical 7-4-0 marks in A-10 play, Xavier was awarded the No. 4 seed as a result of its 2-1 win over Saint Joseph's Oct. 3.
The Championship commences on Thursday, Nov. 6 with No. 3 Richmond facing No. 6 Rhode Island at 5:30 p.m., followed by No. 4 Xavier versus No. 5 Saint Joseph's at 7:30 p.m. The semifinal matches, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7, feature top-seeded Dayton playing the lowest remaining seed at 5:30 p.m. Fordham, the No. 2 seed, will play the highest remaining seed at 7:30 p.m. The A-10 Championship match is set for Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1:00 p.m.
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