Yonkers, NY - October 22, 2011

      Sarah Lawrence shut down the Saint Joseph's Bears today, 5-3, at Tibbetts Park in Yonkers. The win takes the Gryphons one step closer to the conference play-offs, contingent on their standings at the end of the week. 
      The Gryphons went into today's game tied for fourth with Cooper Union and Vaughn, behind Albany Pharmacy, Culinary and Berkeley. Although the play-off spot will be determined by cumulative goals for the season, today's decisive victory over the Bears takes Sarah Lawrence one step further to the Championships.
      Although St. Joe's was the first to strike with a goal in the 8th minute of play, Sarah Lawrence quickly tied with a goal by Gryphon Phil Naess in the 21st minute with an assist by Sebastian Hermann (Munich, Germany/Wilhelmsgymnasium).
      The second half saw the Gryphons pounding in goal after goal against the Bears, scoring four to the the Bears' two. Harper Hunt (Paris, Texas/Paris) sunk two deep into the net in the 53rd and 72nd minutes of play, with an assist by Matt Nester on the first. Matt Elmquist and Rodrigo Cuenca (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) rounded out the other goals. Cuenca's across goal shot was assisted by Naess.
       "We got it done," Co-Head Coach Hassan Turner said following the game, noting that consistency would be key in the upcoming games, especially in light of the team's hopes for play-offs.
        The second half also saw high tempers and heated play. A Yellow and Red card were awarded to St. Joe's at the 52nd and 68th minute of play. The Bears were forced to play with a man down for the last 22 minutes of the game.
       The Gryphons' next game will be hosted by Mount St. Vincent at Tibbetts Park on Tuesday night at 6pm.