STANDISH, ME – #2 Saint Joseph's College (12-5, 8-1 NAC) defeated #7 Simmons College (9-11, 4-5 NAC), 3-1, in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) field hockey tournament quarterfinal at Lakeside Field on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, St. Joe's advances to the semifinal round and will host #3 New England College (11-8, 7-2 NAC) on Wednesday. The Pilgrims defeated #6 Thomas College by a 6-1 tally this afternoon to remain alive in the tourney.

For Simmons, the loss signals the end of the 2011 campaign.

TJ Cowin '14 (Newry, Maine) kicked off the game scoring just 53 seconds into play with her team-leading 15th goal of the season. The sophomore received a pass from Peyton Dostie '15 (Standish, Maine) and deked three Sharks defenders before beating opposing keeper Renna Smith '14 (Belfast, Maine) to lift the Monks to an early lead.

Renee Leach '12 (Springvale, Maine) doubled the SJC cushion with a penalty-shot goal at the 8:44 mark. The senior defender rang a rising wrist shot from the dot off the back crossbar on the top right of the cage to make it a 2-0 contest.

The two-goal lead held until Simmons senior Lee Sutherland (Wolfeboro, N.H.) scored off a rebound 1:08 into the second stanza. Monica Doucette '14 (Rockport, Maine) was credited with an assist on the play.

Just over nine minutes later, Dostie provided the Monks with some breathing room with her fifth goal of the season. The score came off a corner and Leach set up the play with a crossing pass.

Smith tallied seven saves in a losing effort for the Sharks while SJC keeper Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) did not make a stop in the tourney tilt.

Saint Joseph's held an 11-3 advantage in shots and a 7-2 lead in penalty corners on the afternoon.

With the win, St. Joe's improves to 11-6 in the history of the series with Simmons. The Monks have now defeated the Sharks in seven consecutive meetings.

With her 15th goal of the year, Cowin is tied for fourth in team history for markers scored in a single season. Kayla Nowell '11 also scored 15 during the 2009 campaign.