Oct. 19, 2007

Box Score

The La Salle field hockey team saw their losing streak reach four games on Friday afternoon in a 4-1 loss to city-rival Temple.

 

Goalkeeper Ellen Axelsen had a game-high 12 saves and Kara Harpel scored the lone goal for the Explorers, who fell to 8-10 (1-4) with the loss.

 

The Explorers had a chance to take an early lead in the contest. Five minutes into the action, Harpel streaked down the field drawing Temple goalkeeper Erin Hanshue out of the cage. Harpel eluded Hanshue and had a clear shot, but drew contact, resulting in a penalty stroke.

 

Sophomore Caitlin Conk came off the bench to take the free shot for the Explorers. Her shot was on the mark, but Hanshue made an incredible save to keep La Salle off the board.

 

The momentum quickly shifted in favor of the Owls, who got the scoring underway when Dannah Brehm tipped in a shot off of Alli Lokey's corner, giving Temple a 1-0 lead.

 

Lokey came close to extending that lead with a little over five minutes to play in the first half, but Axelsen challenged the All-American candidate, coming out of the cage and breaking up the play.

 

Axelsen finished the first half with eight saves, keeping the deficit at one goal.

 

The Explorers would knot the score early in the second half on a bizarre play. A shot by Whitney Madron was stopped by Hanshue, but the Temple keeper couldn't corral the ball, as it leaked through to Harpel who knocked it in.

 

The tie would not last long however, as the quick-strike Owls responded with goals from Casey Ruth and Brehm in a span of five minutes, stretching the lead to 3-1.

 

Lokey would tack on another goal late in the contest, putting to rest any chance of an Explorer comeback.

 

For the game, the Explorers had four corners to the Owls' 12, while Temple out shot La Salle 20-9.

 

The Explorers return home this Sunday when they take on Saint Joseph's. Game time is 1:00 p.m. at DeVincent Field.