June 10, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - It took just two seasons, but head coach Terri Adams returned Saint Joseph's to prominence this past year. With a berth in the Atlantic 10 Championship, three all-conference selections, an all-region player, and the A-10 Player of the Year, the 2008 season proved the Hawks have landed back among the conference elite.

For the second straight year, Saint Joseph's had a slow start to its season. After topping Troy in their season opener, the Hawks dropped nine straight during their rigorous trip to Florida, before topping Maine, 5-1, to end their trip.

Returning to the Northeast, the Saint Joseph's bats came alive, scoring a season-high 13 runs in the Hawks' 13-5 victory at Rider.

Following a week's layoff, the Hawks opened the Atlantic 10 portion of their schedule versus St. Bonaventure. After dropping a heard-breaking 10-inning 3-2 contest in the opener, Saint Joseph's rallied behind junior Dani Gonzales for a 4-0 victory in the nightcap.

Posting a 3-4 mark over its next seven contests, Saint Joseph's entered its contests with A-10 power Massachusetts trying to hand the Minutewomen their first conference loss of the season. Despite dropping both games, the Hawks proved they could hang with the conference's top team, losing just 1-0 and 4-1.

The Hawks earned a split at Rhode Island to move to 8-17 overall, but more importantly 4-6 in A-10 play. From there though, Saint Joseph's won eight of its next nine, including sweeps of La Salle and Temple and a win over Fordham, brining SJU within reach of an A-10 Tournament berth at 9-6.

Earning a split with George Washington, Saint Joseph's spot in the conference tournament was all but assured heading into its regular season finale at Charlotte. With a 3-1 win in the opener, the Hawks assured themselves of fifth place in the A-10 Championship the following week.

Facing Fordham in the A-10 Tournament opener, Gonzales was stellar on the mound for SJU, allowing just one run on four hits. Unfortunately for the Hawks, that lone run would stand up, sending SJU to the loser's bracket and a matchup with Saint Louis.

Having split the regular-season series with the Billikens, Saint Joseph's need a win to keep its season alive. And the Hawks did, thanks in part to another stellar pitching performance from Gonzales and a three-RBI performance from junior Erika Rosenwinkel.

Keeping their title hopes alive, the Hawks earned a rematch with Fordham the next day. But again, the Rams proved a little too much for SJU, this time topping the Hawks 4-1 and ending a season that saw Saint Joseph's emerge as one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10.

With the addition of a successful season for the team, several Hawks posted memorable individual years, headed by Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and NFCA All-Mid Atlantic Region First Team member Brooke Darreff. The sophomore posted a single-season record .461 batting average and finished ranked among the national leaders in four categories. Rosenwinkel, an A-10 All-Conference First Team member, led the nation in doubles per game, while Gonzales finished second in walks per seven innings and garnered A-10 All-Conference Second Team accolades. Senior Kelsey Moir added to the long line of academic success, earning A-10 All-Academic Team honors, while classmate Lauren Cognigni ended her stellar pitching career the Hawks' all-time leader in strikeout.

Returning nine starters and four experienced bench players, Saint Joseph's is primed for a run at the conference crown both next year and the years to come.