Eagles Squeezed Out of the Osprey’s Nest by Stockton at ECAC's

Newburgh, N.Y. – The #4 seed St. Joseph's Golden Eagles (16-7-1) saw their successful season come to an end against the Richard Stockton Ospreys (17-7) on Saturday as they were defeated 1-0 but held their heads high as they battled with the top-seeded Ospreys.

Both teams were scratching and clawing for the first goal in the battle of the birds as the physical game featured 23 fouls between the two teams. Richard Stockton put Cristiana Votta (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) to the test early, just a minute into the game but Votta made the save. Jennifer Martino (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) got into the action with one of the best chances of the day, but she put the ball just wide of the left post. In the 14th minute Martino blasted another shot at the Osprey's keeper, Cara Parliament but was stonewalled.  Joann Murino (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) put the ball just over the crossbar on a shot from outside of the box in the 18th minute. Murino's shot would prove to be the Eagles final chance of the first half. Richard Stockton's defense held strong, but so did the Eagle's as the teams entered half time scoreless.

A couple minutes into the second half, Votta was tested once again but she was up to the challenge. The Eagles counterattack led to a shot that Martino put off the post which was the best chance of the day from either side.  The Eagles seemed to have snatched the momentum as they had more chances thus far. Martino put another shot barely wide in the 58th minute. Richard Stockton knew that they had to adjust to the Eagles attack. They brought in four subs including Jacque Becker, who would make her presence known quickly. Becker blasted a shot in the box that deflected off a defender and out of play for a corner. Becker put the corner kick into the box, and Adrianna Boucher found the back of the net to give the Osprey's the 1-0 advantage in the 66th minute.

The Lady Eagles sensed their season coming to an end with just 24 minutes left of play but used every bit of energy that they had left and put on an offensive assault against Stockton. In the last ten minutes the Eagles blasted seven shots. The shots went, high, wide left, wide right, and off the backs of defenders. Of the seven shots, only Martino's shot was on goal but Parliament showed once again why she has led her team to a number one seed in the ECACs. 

The Eagles last chances of the night would come in the 84th minute as Jessica Cordano (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) lined up for a shot but the ball just missed the crossbar.

In the game, St. Joseph's outshot Richard Stockton, 13 to 10. Votta made six saves, but ultimately, it was the deflection off the corner kick that made the difference.

SJC finished the season 16-7-1 with a Skyline Conference record of 6-2.