BOSTON, MA - Saint Joseph's (0-0-1) and GNAC foe Simmons College (3-0-1) played to a 2-2 tie in the Monks' season and conference opener on Monday afternoon. Shannon Fitzgerald '12 (Amesbury, MA) scored with 39 seconds remaining in regulation to force extra play against the Sharks and SJC keeper Katye Mayo '10 (Fairfield, ME) made nine saves in the deadlock.

Justine Beauchamp scored an unassisted goal for Simmons at the 18:15 mark to start the game's scoring and the 1-0 lead held until Jessica Needham '11 (E. Bridgewater, MA), off a pass from Mikayla Call '11 (Portland, ME/McAuley), put a ball past Sharks' keeper Rachel Elliot 22 minutes later.

The GNAC rivals swapped goals in the second half as Allie Megna solved Mayo in the 70th minute to put the hosts back on top, 2-1. The outcome looked bleak for the Royal Blue as the final minutes waned but, with a goal from Fitzgerald, her first NCAA marker, the Monks managed to tie the contest with 39 seconds left.

St. Joe's outshot Simmons 7-0 in the first overtime period but was unable to capitalize. The Sharks followed in suit by posting six shots, against none from the Monks, in the second OT, but Mayo made three saves to close out the game with the tie intact.

For the Monks, Needham registered 11 shots, seven on net, and teammates Brianna Jordan '10 (Scarborough, ME) and Katherine Chambers '13 (Hampden, ME) both recorded five shots in the stalemate.

For Simmons, Elliot made 13 saves in goal and Brooke MacKenzie recorded nine shots.

Saint Joseph's will travel to New Haven, Connecticut on Saturday to take on GNAC rival Albertus Magnus College at 1:00 PM. Simmons will host Plymouth State on Wednesday in a 7:00 PM start.