BLUE JAYS STORM PAST PRIDE, 3-0

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The top-seeded University of Saint Joseph defeated No. 8 Regis College, 3-0, on Wednesday afternoon in an ECAC Quarterfinal game played in heavy winds and driving snow. The Pride wrap up their season with a program-best 11-4-3 record.

Saint Joseph (15-2-2) advanced to an ECAC semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m. against an opponent to be determined. As the top seed, the Blue Jays will host a semifinal doubleheader beginning with their game Saturday and Sunday's championship game.

Tactics and finesse were cast to the background Wednesday as conditions rewarded essentially nothing but perseverance. Playing with the wind and snow in their faces, the Blue Jays generated the first goal 18:36 into the contest. Katie Mirabella (Seymour, Conn.) took a cross from Sara Barnick (Watertown, Conn.) and finished for her ninth goal of the season.

Despite getting the worst of the conditions in the first half, Saint Joseph outshot Regis, 8-2 and took the 1-0 lead into intermission.

Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) scored her team-leading 14th goal off a feed from Mirabella 9:27 into the second half to stake Saint Joseph to a 2-0 lead. Nolan made a run through the middle of the box and deposited the ball in the lower left corner from eight yards.

Nicole Mendelson (Southbury, Conn.) concluded the scoring when her corner kick went off the far post and in for her third goal of the season with 19:21 to play. Saint Joseph outshot Regis 12-0 in the second half and 20-2 for the game. The Blue Jays also took more corner kicks, 5-4.

Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) and Tara Kowalski(Colchester, Conn.) combined for the shutout with Dodge making two saves in 84 minutes.

The Pride's Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) made six saves for Regis.

Release courtesy of University of Saint Joseph Sports Information