Oct. 31, 2008
Box Score
CINCINNATI, OH - Freshman Dana O'Brien scored a pair of first-half goals and sophomore Melissa Sanger made six saves to help La Salle Women's Soccer to a 3-0 win at Xavier Friday night in Atlantic 10 action, marking its fourth straight win and extending its unbeaten streak to five straight.
O'Brien scored her fourth game-winner of 2008 just 20:11 into the match after taking a pass from Traci DePasquale and shooting from 22 yards out. With the helper, DePasquale registers her fifth assist in the past three games and her 10th of the season, tying for the second most ever for a single season at the school.
Twenty minutes later, O'Brien did it again to put the Explorers up 2-0, with assists credited to Melanie Gamble and Ally Kenney. This was the rookie's first two-goal game for La Salle, and she now leads the team with nine goals - tied for 10th most in a season at the school. It also marked her fourth straight game with at least a point.
Xavier (1-15-2) had a couple chances just before the half to cut into the deficit, but Sanger came up with two huge saves to keep the Musketeers off the scoreboard. A shot by Jessica Brooks at the 41:50 mark was saved by the goalie, then 18 seconds before the break, she made a terrific save, tipping the ball just over the crossbar.
"I thought that was a key moment in the first half," said Head Coach Paul Royal. "Melissa made a brilliant save and that kept them off the board. This was a great team effort and a good team-win.
"Dana getting those two goals really helped us, but we had great efforts from Mel, Traci, and Lauren Barker in the midfield. And then we got some great energy from our subs off the bench. Simone Canfarotta, Kelly O'Steen, and Dani Allizzo really gave us a spark."
Gamble gave the Explorers some extra cushion just three minutes after the half, as she converted her third penalty kick of the season - now 3-for-3 on PKs this season - to give La Salle a 3-0 lead. It was her eighth tally of 2008.
Sanger made six saves during the contest to earn her eight win of the season and her fourth of 2008, which ties for the fourth most in a single season at La Salle. Xavier's Susan Loeffler made saves, while suffering the loss.
La Salle (9-7-3, 5-3-2 A-10) has just one more regular season game left on its schedule, Sunday at Dayton starting at 1 PM. However, the Explorers could know if they have already clinched an A-10 Championship berth before they take the field.
If Duquesne defeats Saint Bonaventure on Saturday, the Explorers will finish no lower than sixth in the standings and the top six teams make the tournament. Click here to see the updated A-10 standings.
