RIVERSIDE, CA - For the fifth time in six games this season, La Salle Women's Soccer scored the first goal and took a lead into intermission. However, for the third straight contest, the Explorers opposition was able to knot the game in the second half - as UC Riverside did - but this time La Salle was able to hold on for a 1-1 tie on Sunday in a non-conference tilt at UCR Soccer Stadium.
Traci DePasquale put the Explorers on the board in the 12th minute of the game off a double assist from Heather Steadman and Kierstyn Mabey. It was DePasquale's second goal of the season, but the 17th of her career, tying for seventh all-time at the school with Tracey Spinelli (1997-00). Also, in just 26 games for the Explorers, Steadman now has 10 career assists, just one off the La Salle career list in that category.
Despite being outshot 12-5 in the first half, the Explorers took the 1-0 lead into intermission, as La Salle goalie Melissa Sanger made four saves in the opening frame. They have held the lead at intermission in all but the Loyola (MD) contest, and in the past two - at Villanova and at San Diego, both nationally-ranked, the opponents were able to tie the contest in the second and then come out on top in regulation time.
UC Riverside (4-3-1) was also able to score the equalizer - a goal by Sarah Mohammadi, her second of the season, assisted by Tessa Lennala - and outshot La Salle 11-7 in the second frame, but was unable to take the lead as the game went into overtime.
The goalkeepers were key in keeping the game tied at 1-1 as Sanger came up with four saves in the second half and Highlanders' goalie Brittany Goetz made three saves and their defense made two, as both came up with pivotal stops in the 89th minute off back-to-back shots by Ally Kenney and Carissa Philips.
Each team was able to get off four shots in the extra 20 minutes, but neither found the back of the net. Sanger made a total of nine saves in the contest as she registers the first tie in her 17 career starts, while Goetz stopped five shots.
With the 1-1 draw, La Salle's streak of netting a pair of goals in eight straight games - dating back to last season - ended. Also, the Explorers are tied for the first time since a 2-2 decision, October 20, 2006 at Xavier.
La Salle (3-2-1) is next in action on Friday, when the Explorers return home for the first time since their season-opener August 29 as they host NJIT at 7 PM
