STANDISH, ME - Jessica Needham '11 (East Bridgewater, MA) single-handedly manufactured all of the offense for Saint Joseph's (6-3-1, 6-0-1 GNAC) in a 3-2 victory over conference rival Norwich University (4-7-1, 2-5-1) on Saturday at Westerlea Way Field. The hat trick is the first of Needham's career.

Brittany Casey '13 (Pointe-Claire, QUE) and Lisa Esparza '13 (Dover, NH) scored the Cadet goals and Norwich keeper Nikki Hunsicker '11 (Emmaus, PA) recorded six saves in the losing effort.

Needham opened the game scoring with an odd goal in the 17 th minute. The junior took a shot from centerfield from beyond the 18 that appeared to be wide-right, but the ball deflected off a Norwich defender past Hunsicker into the right corner of the net.

Casey answered the tally eight minutes later on a free kick from the right side. The freshman forward snuck a blast between the outstretched hands of SJC keeper Katye Mayo '10 (Fairfield, ME) and the right post to knot the game at one apiece.

The stalemate stood until the 47 th minute when Needham struck again for the Monks to provide the hosts with a 2-1 edge. Anna Willis '10 (Gorham, ME) set up the play with a cross pass, right to left, and Needham finished with a goal to the bottom right corner.

The back-and-forth affair continued, as Esparza tied the game nine minutes with a breakaway goal. Emily Chandler '12 (Erie, CO) sprung Esparza free with an excellent ball up the middle of the field and the first-year midfielder completed the play with a boot to the bottom left past Mayo .

It took nearly 24 minutes for the Monks to answer the Norwich marker, but Needham , who now has three game-winning goals this fall, answered the call for the Royal Blue with her eighth goal of the season. A scramble in front of the net followed a Mikayla Call '11 (Portland, ME/McAuley) scoring opportunity, as Hunsicker was unable to control the rebound. The ball found Needham , who kicked the ball to an open net from close range to put the Monks up, 3-2. Call recorded an assist on the play.

Saint Joseph's will play at Lasell on Monday at 1:00 PM in a conference contest, while Norwich is set to host GNAC foe Mount Ida on Monday at 3:00 PM.

Norwich (4-7-1) vs. St. Joseph's (Me.) (6-3-1)
Date: Oct 10, 2009  Attendance: 73
Weather:

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Norwich.............  1  1 -  2
St. Joseph's (Me.)..  1  2 -  3

SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  16:30 SJMWS Jessica Needham (unassisted) - Deflected off defenders thigh into the right corner of the goal- os 18
  2.  24:03 NORW Brittany Casey (unassisted) - free kick right corner of the net deflected off goalies hand
  3.  46:39 SJMWS Jessica Needham (Anna Willis) - Cross by anna willis right to left off defender put in bottom right
  4.  55:52 NORW Lisa Esparza (Emily Chandler) - breakway goal after a good ball up the middle of the field bottom left
  5.  79:03 SJMWS Jessica Needham (Mikayla Call) - shot by 4 deflected off goalie put in by needham middle bottom

Shots: Norwich 8, St. Joseph's (Me.) 20
Saves: Norwich 7 (Nicki Hunsicker 6; TEAM 1), St. Joseph's (Me.) 1
(Katye Mayo 1)