Caitlin Kennedy scored Fordham’s lone goal. (Photo courtesy of Fordham)

Saint Joseph’s University scored three times in the opening 35 minutes to register a 3-1 win over the Fordham University women in an Atlantic 10 match at Sweeney Field in Philadelphia on Thursday night.

The Hawks (2-5-6, 1-0-4), having drawn in each of their first four conference contests, scored in the eighth minute. The combination of Nicole Angelini and Jiselle Daniels found Natalie Nevins for a shot from the left side of the box over goalkeeper Maria O’Sullivan for her fourth goal of the season.

Fordham (3-7-1, 2-1-1) tied the game in the 22nd minute on a set piece. Ryann Lucas took the initial corner kick, floating it into the six-yard box. Caitlin Kennedy lifted the ball up and over the keeper to knot things up with her first goal of the season.

The hosts, however, Hawks took the lead for good only 40 seconds later. Angelini found Daniels at the top of box for a shot inside the right post for her third goal of the campaign and a 2-1 advantage.

The Hawks grabbed a two-goal margin 35th minute, when Mairin Boyle knocked the ball into the net off a scrum in front for her first of the year.

Though the Rams put a couple of shots on net in the second half, Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Katie Cappelletti, who also plays for the Rochester Lady Lancers in United Women’s Soccer in the offseason, made two saves to preserve the decision.

Fordham hosts the University of Rhode Island at Jack Coffey Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.