MERION STATION, Pa.—Top-seed Saint Joseph’s field hockey scored three first half goals to defeat No. 4 Richmond, 3-1 in the semifinals of the 2018 Atlantic 10 Conference Field Hockey Championship. The defending champion Hawks will play for the A-10 title for the third straight year.

SJU (17-2) will face the No. 2 VCU/No. 3 Massachusetts in Saturday’s Championship final.

Saint Joseph’s first goal came at 7:19 of the first half when Johanna Huse fired a shot on a pass from Pepa Serrano following a corner. Huse’s hard shot deflected of a defender and into the cage for the goal.

A-10 Rookie of the Year Tonya Botherway took a pass from Anna Willocks and got loose on a breakaway for the Hawks’ second goal at 14:17. Anna Willocks gave Saint Joseph’s a 3-0 lead in the 26th minute, a score they held into halftime.

Richmond (7-12)got on the board in the second half, when A-10 All-Rookie selection Steffie Bongers scored off a pass by Olivia Frazier following a penalty corner.

Saint Joseph’s led in shots 20-3 and in penalty corners 8-2. Richmond made five saves in the game.