Amherst, MA-The La Salle University Women's Soccer team was defeated,1-0, by Saint Joseph's in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals this afternoon at Rudd Field.

It was at least slightly ironic that the Explorers and Hawks, neighbors in Philadelphia, traveled five hours into the northeast - and into the winter, it seems - for this chilly playoff showdown. For La Salle, it was only the second postseason appearance in program history.

After a scoreless first half, the Hawks surged ahead when defender Jess Daugherty arced a seemingly harmless ball from 40 yards out that carried downwind, just over the head of Kerry Schamberger (Levittown, NY/St. Anthony's) and into the corner of the net.

The Explorers had chances of their own, the best coming from Kim Lisun (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) who hit the crossbar so hard it's probably still shaking.

The Hawks hit a crossbar of their own in the first half when midfielder Ginnette Buffone took a rebound from Schamberger, and nearly gave the Hawks an early lead.

But for the most part the Explorers dominated possession. They out-shot the Hawks, 14-7, and held the advantage in corner kicks, 8-1. Kristin Hextall (Voorhees, NJ/Bishop Eustace) led the way with six shots. Heather Barclay (Bronx, NY/St. Joseph by the Sea) added three.

Kerry Schamberger (Levittown, NY/St. Anthony's) made two saves in net.

The defense played well in front of her, led by Erin McNulty (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) and Liz Ash (Richboro, PA/Council Rock). The game might've been different had Ash not made a spectacular save, if that's possible, when the ball squirted past Schamberger and trickled perilously close to the goal-line.