Back-to-Back: #11 Field Hockey Stifles #21 UMass, 3-0, for Second Consecutive Atlantic 10 Title

When the stakes were the highest, the Hawks soared to the top and left absolutely no doubt that they are the class of the Atlantic 10.

The 11th-ranked Saint Joseph's field hockey team turned in its most dominant performance of the season on Saturday, holding #21 UMass without a shot en route to a 3-0 win in the Atlantic 10 championship game at the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In utterly dominant fashion, that's how. Despite not finding the cage, the Hawks spent most of the first quarter in the offensive zone, ripping off four shots.
• Saint Joseph's (15-4) broke through in the second, as a corner sequence led to a rebound that Sol Borensztein put home for the opening goal.
• Shortly after halftime, the Hawks doubled the lead on another corner. Lily Santi inserted and then received a pass from Freke van Tilburg that she slotted past UMass' Myrte van Herwijnen for a 2-0 advantage.
• It was van Tilburg herself that iced the game with 10 minutes to go in the fourth, converting on yet another penalty corner to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
• UMass (15-5) would have a chance late to get on the board, but the Hawk defense smothered any opportunities before they could turn into threats.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

• The Hawks held an overwhelming 18-0 advantage in shots on Saturday, marking the second time this season that SJU has held a team without an attempt (vs. Lock Haven, September 23). In two games between Saint Joseph's and UMass this season, the Hawks outshot the Minutewomen, 32-1.
• The shutout was the 11th of the season for the Hawks, setting a new program record. SJU shut out 10 opponents in both 2018 and 2021.
• Van Herwijnen made five saves in defeat for UMass, while Robin Bleekemolen was not called on to make a stop in the game.
• Five Hawks were named to the All-Championship Team, as Borensztein, Santi, and van Tilburg were joined by Katy Benton and Leigh James. Santi was named the Most Outstanding Player after finishing the tournament with a goal and two assists.
• The title is the sixth overall and fifth in six seasons for Saint Joseph's. The Hawks are third in A-10 history with six championships, ranking behind UMass (16) and Richmond (eight).
• SJU will make its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history next week.

UP NEXT

The 11th-ranked Saint Joseph's field hockey team will take on #8 Wake Forest in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the First Round of the 2022 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship on Friday afternoon. Learn more.

This news article originally appeared on sjuhawks.com.