Nov. 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Saint Joseph's and Massachusetts will play for the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Championship on Saturday afternoon after both teams picked up exciting semifinal wins this afternoon at Finnesey Field on the campus of Saint Joseph's University.

The first match between top-seeded Temple (15-6) and fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's (11-8) ended in dramatic fashion after SJU sophomore Kelly Walter scored the game-winning goal with 1:49 left in regulation, clinching the Hawks' second trip to the Conference finals in two years.

The two teams met less than a week after their regular season finale on Oct. 27, a contest which Temple won, 4-2. St. Joe's head coach Michelle Finnegan, knowing they'd be meeting the Owls again in the semifinals round, prepared the team for the quick scoring attack of TU and how to respond.

"It's always nice to have a rematch because you always know more about a team once you play them," said Finnegan. "We rearranged a few things and game through with the win against a great team."

Saint Joseph's Brianne Miller opened the scoring after she dribbled in from a penalty corner and fired a shot past the goalkeeper at the 5:25 mark. Temple responded with a goal from sophomore forward Dannah Brehm, who tipped in a cross at 20:26.

Momentum swung back into Saint Joseph's favor after Miller took a penalty corner pass from teammate Anne Schreuders, maneuvered around a defender and found the back of the net to put the Hawks up 2-1.

The Saint Joseph defense was stifling, allowing just a single shot on goal in the first half. The defensive battle continued well into the second half until Temple's Charise Young deflected in a shot to tie the match, 2-2, at the 67:22 mark.

It took less than 60 seconds for the Hawks to respond, however, with Walter scoring her second tally of the day.

"We had very focused practices this week and we wanted to leave all out there on the field," said Miller. "Everyone worked together for a total team effort. This is our campus and our field. We really want to take home the championship."

Saint Joseph's outshot Temple, 12-7, and ended with a 6-5 edge on penalty corners en route to snapping the Owls' six game winning streak.

"It's just unbelievable," said Finnegan of the Hawks' clutch victory. "I'm so proud of them. They put it together, kept their composure and executed the game plan to perfection. They really played with heart out there today."

In the second semifinal contest of the afternoon, second-seeded Massachusetts (12-8) held off five-time defending champion and third-seeded Richmond, 2-1.

The matchup featured the lone Conference champions in the past 12 years, with Massachusetts winning six straight Championships from 1996-01 and Richmond taking the Conference crown in each of the last five years.

The Minutewomen struck first after a penalty corner pass from Erin Parker was relayed to Kristina DoRosario, who slipped the ball through a defender to the stick of sophomore midfielder Cher King. King put her shot off the left crossbar and into the goal at 30:18, giving UMass the early 1-0 lead.

The Spiders (6-13) bounced back to tie the game courtesy of an Adrian Pickar goal off an assist by Sarah Blythe-Wood at 36:46. The tie would not last long, however, as UMass freshman Jaime Bourazeris found the net for the go-ahead score in the 41st minute. The talented defense of Massachusetts held strong for the remainder of the game, anchored by senior goalkeeper Becky Letourneau's three saves.

"Four out the five of us are seniors and we've been playing together for four years, so we know where each other are and we work well with each other," said Letourneau of her defensive unit. "They help me out a lot and I try to do the same."

Richmond's last A-10 Championship loss was to UMass in 2001, which was also a 2-1 final score.

Justine Sowry, the first-year head coach at Massachusetts and Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, credited her team advancing to Saturday's final to their off-season dedication and mental toughness.

"I have to give so much credit to our team because since my arrival they have been so motivated and dedicated to getting the job done," said Sowry. "I couldn't ask for a better effort in the last ten months and certainly this season they've worked their tails off. It was a total team effort."

The title game of the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship will take place at 2:00pm on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Finnesey Field on the campus of Saint Joseph's University.