PHILADELPHIA, PA -  The La Salle University Explorers scored a huge victory over the rival Saint Joseph's Hawks Friday afternoon at Finnesey Field.  In the opening Atlantic 10 conference game for both teams, the Explorers edged out the Hawks 2-1 in double overtime to grab the conference win and improve to 3-10 overall, while Saint Joseph's drops to 7-4 and 0-1.

Junior Suzanne Strocen made use of a penalty corner to get the Explorers on the board at the 10:22 mark with the help of senior Emilie Stewart.  It took the Saint Joseph's Hawks almost eight minutes to respond when Nicole Antonini took a pass from Hilary Moody to tie the score at 1-1.

The teams finished out the first half scoreless, and that trend continued throughout the second half, causing regulation to end in a 1-1 tie.  The first overtime proved the same, despite the Hawks getting five shots off to La Salle's two.

In the second overtime, the Explorers capitalized again on a penalty corner as Allison Geiger netted the game-winner at 86:23 with the assistance of Colleen Nesbitt.

Goalkeeper Ellen Axelsen tallied six saves in the contest.  For the Hawks, Rebecca Cunfer added three saves to her season totals.

La Salle got the win despite being out shot 14-8.  The penalty corner advantage also went to Saint Joseph's at 9-6.

The Explorers will look to score a second A-10 win on Sunday when they visit the Temple Owls at 12:00 p.m.