WASHINGTON, DC - It was a tough week for the La Salle Explorer lacrosse team.  The team finished out the week 0-2, after falling to host American on Sunday afternoon, 17-13.  The Explorers had a 10-8 advantage at the half, but fell short in the second half to drop to 5-5 overall, while the Eagles improved to 5-6.

Freshman Emily Bonczek (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) led the way with four goals for La Salle, while senior Kate Henwood (Glen Mills, PA/Garnett Valley) chipped in three goals.  Sophomore Catie Borneman (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) contributed one goal and assisted an another two.

American got on the scoreboard first, as Sarah Milewski netted her first of the game at the 2:14 mark.  Lauren Aksinoff followed four minutes into the contest, with both of American's goals getting an assist from Monica Linnell. 

Kat Prokop (Towaco, NJ/Montville Township) stopped the Eagles 36 seconds later to bring the score to 2-1.  Linnell gave American another two goal advantage with 24:21 to go in the half on an unassisted goal.  The Eagles got more help from Rebecca Copeland at 7:24 when she connected on a pass from Aksinoff to put the Eagels up 4-1.

The Explorers answered with the next four goals, with Bonczek scoring her first at 7:32, followed by Borneman at 8:09 and Becky Boudwin's (Springfield, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) free position goal at 12:39.  Tiffany Grossi (Ridley Park, PA/Ridley Park) finished La Salle's run which gave the Explorers their first lead of the game at 5-4.

Copeland knotted the scored at 5-5 with 13:36 to go on a free position shot, before Bonczek scored her second to put the Explorers up again.  Kristen Davis (Folsom, PA/Ridley) scored her lone goal of the came at the 19:26 mark, followed by Henwood at 10:38.  Bonczek recorded her eighth hat trick of the season with 8:21 to play to gie the Explorers their biggest lead at 9-5.

American stopped the Explorers second run at four off a free position goal from Milweski.  Henwood answered right back with her own free position goal with 5:26 to play in the half.

Caithlin Gorman and Aksinoff each knocked in a goal for American to close out the half with the Explorers on top 10-8.

In the second half, Gorman came out with a goal just 41 seconds into the half.  The Eagles' Chelsea Kapp tied the game at 10-10 with 24:43 to play. Grossi gave La Salle the go ahead goal at the 42:50 mark, but that proved to be the last lead for the Explorers.

Linnell and Copeland scored back-to-back goals for American in a span of 19 seconds to give American the lead.  Henwood tied the game with 14:54 to play, but the Eagles then scored four unanswered goals to take a 16-12 lead and put the game out of La Salle's reach.

Bonczek scored La Salle's final goal with 7:17 to play, and the Eagles saw their last goal come by way of Copeland with just 12 seconds to play.

The Explorers continue their road trip on Tuesday, April 5th when they visit Lafayette in an evening game at 7:00 p.m.