AMHERST, Mass. - Freshman Meredith Fox's (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) first collegiate goal capped off a 2-1 second half rally as the University of Massachusetts women's soccer team earned a victory in its Atlantic 10 opener, defeating Saint Joseph's at home on Rudd Field. The win extends the Minutewomen's unbeaten streak to four straight games and moves the squad's record to 2-4-2 (1-0-0 A-10), while the Hawks fall to 3-4-2 overall (0-1-0 A-10).

In a first half where much of the possession was controlled by Saint Joseph's, a fortuitous bounce gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Maggie Lupinski carried the ball deep into UMass territory down the left-hand sideline and sent a cross into the box that glanced off the head of a Minutewomen defender and into the net past goalkeeper Lauren Luckey (Hedersonville, Tenn./Pope John Paul II)  just 5:20 into the contest.

Despite being outshot 10-3 in the opening period, UMass rallied and turned the tables on Saint Joseph's in the second half, holding a 9-3 shot advantage following the intermission with three corner kicks.

The Minutewomen promptly tied the score at 1-1 just over a minute into the second half. On a failed clearing attempt by a Hawks player, redshirt junior Sydney Stoll (Dedham, Mass./Dedham) intercepted the ball and made a run to the right of the Saint Joseph's net. Stoll then sent a cross to junior Therese Smith (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) who awaited the pass and tucked a low close-range shot in behind Christine Neal for her second goal of the season at 46:16.

Less than five minutes later at 50:02, UMass capitalized on a corner kick by senior Jacquelyn Desjardins (South Hadley, Mass./South Hadley). Amidst a crowd in front of the goal, Fox brought down the ball and sent it home for the would-be game winner.

Luckey and freshman Emily Cota (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) split the goaltending duties for the Minutewomen with Luckey stopping five shots and Cota turning aside one as she played the second half and picked up the win. Neal totaled three saves for the Hawks, who finished the contest with a narrow 13-12 edge in shots. Corner kicks were even at four apiece, while fouls were 10-6 against Saint Joseph's.

UMass will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27, when the squad will begin a three-game road trip at Duquesne. The match is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start.