Nov. 4, 2007
Box Score
PITTSBURGH, PA - The La Salle University Women's Soccer team ended its 2007 season Sunday with a 3-2 overtime loss to Duquesne University in Atlantic 10 Conference action at Arthur J. Rooney Field. They battled back from a two-goal halftime deficit, but just three minutes into the first OT session, Faye Rasmussen scored the game-winner.
She took a cross from Shannon Rengers at the top of the box and fired towards the goal. La Salle goalie Melissa Sanger stopped the shot, but the ball trickled towards the right post, hit it, and bounced into the net.
Duquesne (12-6-0, 8-3-0 A-10) converted on a corner kick in the 24th minute to take a one-goal lead when Rasmussen headed home Audra Mathews' kick. The Dukes increased their lead to 2-0 four minutes later with Shelly Esposito's breakaway goal, despite the appearance of her being offsides.
Just five minutes before the half, La Salle looked like they had their first goal, but Kristin Hextall's header off of a Michelle Verzi cross went just over the crossbar.
The Explorers finally broke through in the second half and cut their deficit to 2-1 at the 51:04 mark. Jenna Guagenti sent a ball into the right side of the box, where Hextall settled and fired near post past Duquesne goalie Gabby Morrin for her A-10 leading 15th tally of the season.
Melanie Gamble had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the 68th minute, after a Guagenti free kick from the right side of the net found its way to the far post. Gamble's shot was juggled by Morrin, but then cleared out.
She made good eight minutes later on an almost identical play, when Guagenti's free kick this time sailed towards the net. Morrin made the initial save, but Gamble banged in the rebound for her first of the season, tying the game at 2-2 with 14:25 left in regulation time.
La Salle finishes its season 11-9-0, 5-6-0 in the A-10 Conference. The 11 victories are the second-most ever in the 22-year history of the program at the school. Among the other numbers posted by the Explorers this season is tying the second-best winning percentage (.550), the third-most goals scored (41), and the second-most assists (49) registered in a season at La Salle.
