Oct. 10, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Freshman forward Tom Kalpokas netted the first two goals of his career to put La Salle on top twice, but the Explorers fell in a 3-2 heartbreaker to No. 9 Saint Louis on Friday night in the conference opener for both teams. Kyle Patterson scored the winning goal for the Billikens with only two and a half minutes remaining in regulation. With the loss, the Explorers fall to 1-7-3 (0-1-0 Atlantic 10), while the Billikens improve to 5-0-5 (1-0-0 Atlantic 10).
Kalpokas broke open a scoreless game at the 49:54 mark. Daniel Heavey shot the ball through the defense from the top of the key to find Kalpokas, who grounded the ball into the back left corner of the net.
The Billikens' Kyle Hayes answered just over a minute later with a breakaway goal. The scoring flurry was not done yet as Kalpokas once again put the Explorers on top with a goal just 10 seconds later. Brian Barry passed the ball in the air and Kalpokas headed the ball into the center of the net.
The Explorers remained on top 2-1 until the Billikens' Brandon Barklage headed in the equalizer on a cross from Alex Johnston in the 67th minute.
Corner kicks plagued the Explorers all night as the Billikens held a 7-0 advantage and ironically enough, Patterson's winning goal at the 87:22 mark came off of a corner kick. Barklage sailed the ball into the middle of the box off the corner and Patterson headed it in for the final score and his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Kalpokas nearly scored his third goal of the game with 11 seconds remaining on a scramble in front of the net, but Billiken keeper Pat Disbennett came up with the stop to preserve the 3-2 score and prevent a sixth Saint Louis overtime match.
"[Saint Louis is] the No. 9 team in the country and you can see why. They're very good," Head Coach Pat Farrell said. "The three things I told the team was to play hard, play for 90 [minutes] and play to win. We had the opportunity to win, [but] we didn't finish the game and they did."
Both teams were even on the shot count with 13 apiece. The Explorers held a 7-3 shot advantage heading into the halftime break, while the Billikens outshot the home squad 10-6 in the second stanza. Kalpokas led the Explorers with four shots, three of which were on goal. Heavey took three shots, two on goal. Barklage led all players with five shots for the Billikens.
Tonight's match also marked the seventh match this season in which the Explorers did not give up a goal in the first half.
Andrew Bernhard stopped five shots in goal for the Explorers. Disbennett registered four saves while picking up the win in goal.
The Explorers return to McCarthy Stadium on Sunday (10/12) for the fourth of five consecutive home matches. They will host No. 20 Charlotte at noon as part of a men's/women's doubleheader. Following the men's match, the women will host city rival Penn at 3 p.m.
