Emilie Stewart

Amy Comstock scored the lone Explorer goal

Emily Simone

CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF A CHAMPIONSHIP
Join the Explorers in celebrating this milestone on October 22, 2005 when the team will host an alumni game and reception.  Contact coach Sarah Catlin (catlin@lasalle.edu) for more details.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Playing 15 road games, the La Salle Explorer field hockey team hosted the Atlantic 10 leading Richmond Spiders at Hank DeVincent Field on Friday afternoon.  The Explorers played on their home "turf" for just the second time this season.  After Richmond spun four Atlantic 10 teams in their web, outscoring the teams 25-2, the Explorers were the only team to take the game to overtime.  In the extra period, Richmond earned a 2-1 win and improved to 10-5 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the conference, while the Explorers fell to 3-14, 1-4.

In the cold and rain, the Explorers and Spiders split time at each end of the field and after 28:41 of scoreless play, Richmond's Jodi Murphy took a pass from Tara Kelly, after Kelly just checked into the game, and put the Spiders on the board at 1-1.

After the intermission, the teams came out and played an uneventful second half.  The Spiders were awarded six penalty corners in the half, but were unable to convert any of those corners.

With turn running down, La Salle's Amy Comstock took advantage of an empty Richmond net, with Spider goalkeeper Michelle Swartz flat on the ground and drilled a shot to tie the game at one goal apiece with 9:33 to play in regulation.

The teams went into the overtime, the fifth overtime game of the season for La Salle, and just 1:53 into the extra period, Richmond's Shannon Taylor chipped in a shot from Michelle La Force following a penalty corner to win the game for the Spiders.

La Salle goalkeeper Ellen Axelsen tallied nine saves in the contest and Swartz earned none, as the Explorers managed just one shot in the game.

The Explorers will be back on Hank DeVincent Field on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. (please note time change) against the Saint Louis Billikens.  At 10:45 a.m., the seniors will be honored in the last home game of the season.