The Saint Joseph's Hawks opened their season in convincing fashion, downing the Hofstra Pride 3-1 at Sweeney Field on a crisp evening.
A Tight Contest at Sweeney Field
Early in the first half, Kayla D'Ottaviano received a precise pass from Olivia Mancini and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper to stake the Hawks to a 1-0 lead.
The Pride responded after the break when Amy Meadows, who had been quiet for much of the opening period, struck for her maiden collegiate goal, leveling the score at 1-1.
However, the lead was short‑lived. Sarah Fisher, who had already found the net earlier in the campaign, coolly converted a feed at the 50‑minute‑36 mark to restore the advantage for Hofstra.
With the clock winding down, Olivia Benzing sealed the outcome with an insurance goal in the 85th minute, the finish set up by Juliette Muro's clever assist.
Between the scoring bursts, the match featured a battle of keepers. The Pride's duo of Amy Meadows and Lilly Bailey combined for two saves, while the Hawks' Lauren Lebo made five stops to keep the visitors at bay.
Statistically, the Hawks enjoyed a 12‑9 edge in shots and a 6‑1 corner kick advantage, underscoring their overall dominance despite the Pride's early resilience.