Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - It took just 37 seconds for the La Salle University Women's Soccer team to score its first goal of the 2007 season - a Kristin Hextall game-winner - and from that point on, the Explorers cruised - thanks to a pair of goals each from Traci DePasquale and Dana Giordano - to a 5-0 win over Wagner College Friday night at McCarthy Stadium.

With the victory, La Salle opens the season with a victory for the first time in five seasons, last winning a season-opener on August 30, 2002 - a 4-0 victory at home over Delaware.

 

The five goals are one shy of the second-most goals scored in a game by a La Salle team and are the most since the Explorers' 8-0 victory over St. Peter's on September 8, 2000. The five-goal difference is tied for the fifth-largest margin of victory in La Salle's 21 years of Women's Soccer accomplished for the sixth time.

 

Starting the scoring barrage was Hextall, last year's team-leader in goals, assists, and points. With the tally, she now has 19 career goals, tied for fifth on the school's all-time list with Dana Gavaghan (1997-00) and is two goals shy of fourth. Her 49 points is good for seventh all-time (two shy of sixth) and her 156 shots is fifth (two shy of fourth).

 

Setting up the score was Melanie Gamble and Heatherrae Steadman. For Gamble it was the first of three assists on the night - the first time an Explorer has accomplished the feat since Krista Lee (2000-03) in that Delaware contest.

 

La Salle continued to pressure the Seahawks and finally broke the game open when DePasquale scored two goals just one minute apart, 23:43 and 24:43 into the game, one assisted by Gamble, the other off a Michelle Verzi assist.

 

During the first half, the Explorers outshot Wagner 14-1 and held a 6-0 corner kick advantage. In the second, they added 11 shots, two which found the back of the net thanks to Giordano. Her first goal, a 25-yard strike, was assisted by Simone Canfarotta in the 76th minute and the second from Gamble, 10 minutes later.

 

Getting the start, and win, in net for the Explorers was Lauren Malizia, who played the first half, faced one shot and made the save. In the second, Melissa Sanger took over, faced three shots and registered two saves as the pair combined on the shutout.

 

Wagner (0-1) managed just four shots in the game, two by Stephanie Burnett, while Sam Schueschner made 10 saves in net for the Seahawks.

 

The Explorers (1-0) return to the field, Sunday, with a 1 PM match versus Monmouth at McCarthy Stadium.