Oct. 19, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Dana O'Brien took a pass from Dana Giordano and scored 1:58 into the second overtime to lift La Salle Women's Soccer to a 2-1 victory at Saint Joseph's in Atlantic 10 action at Finnesey Field on Sunday.

The win for the Explorers marked the first time the Hawks have fallen at home all season, as they entered the match with a 3-0-2 mark at home.

After a scoreless first half, Lauren Barker put the Explorers on the board in the 56th minute, as she collected a rebound off a Heather Steadman shot that Saint Joseph's goalie Megan Bastianelli could not control. However, she did make 14 stops in the entire contest, keeping the Hawks within reach.

Saint Joseph's (7-5-3, 2-2-3 A-10) finally broke through on a free kick just outside the penalty box, as Allie Dowling beat La Salle goalie Melissa Sanger for the equalizer with just 4:40 left in the contest.

After a scoreless first overtime session, which included a failed penalty kick by Giordano, she made up for it in the second with the assist on O'Brien's goal, played a shot to the left inside post. For O'Brien, it was her team-leading sixth goal of the year.

"This was an incredible team effort from all players - those on the bench and those on the field," said Head Coach Paul Royal. "I was really pleased with the way the team stayed composed after going into overtime and then was able to score a great goal for the game-winner."

After combining for just eight shots in the first half, the teams took 28 in the second and nine in the overtime sessions. Sanger made eight saves to earn her fifth win of the season.

La Salle (6-7-3, 2-3-2 A-10) is next in action this weekend for its final two games at McCarthy Stadium in 2008. The Explorers host Massachusetts on Friday at 7 PM and Rhode Island on Sunday at 1 PM.