Sept. 28, 2008

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PHILADELPHIA - La Salle Women's Soccer returned to the friendly confines of McCarthy Stadium - where the Explorers had won six of their last seven and had yet to allow a goal in 2008 - for their Atlantic 10 Conference home opener on Sunday afternoon. They made it seven-of-eight and improved to 3-0 at home this year as they shut out visiting George Washington, 2-0.

 

The Explorers have struggled on the road this season - they are 1-4-1 - but have thrived at home and in the city. They are 4-1 in games played in Philadelphia and have allowed just four goals in those contests. That will prove big in upcoming games, as La Salle will not play another match outside of the Philadelphia area until Halloween.

 

In this match, the teams played a scoreless first half, but the Explorers had a golden opportunity in the 41st minute to break up the tie when Sara Copare hit a cross, which Dana Giordano headed towards the net, but George Washington goalie Lindsey Rowe came up with the save to keep it at zeros.

 

The Explorers finally broke through with a goal by Heather Steadman in the 52nd minute. Traci DePasquale had the ball on the left side of the net and passed it across to Steadman on the right side. She put the 18-yard strike in the back of the goal for her first of the season.

 

George Washington (4-6-0, 0-2-0 A-10) had several scoring chances in the second half to knot the game, however La Salle goalie Melissa Sanger came up with six second-half saves. In the 63rd minute, Keara Mehlert played a ball to Erica Wright in the corner, who crossed it in front to Brittany Eger. Sanger saved the point-blank shot.

 

La Salle had its opportunities as well to put an insurance goal on the board, but Rowe was able to keep the ball out of the net until there was just one minute left on the clock.

 

It was again DePasquale with the assist, this time finding Alex Conley on a breakaway for her fourth goal of the year, which finally iced the game for the Explorers. Conley is now tied for the team-lead with 11 points, while DePasquale - with her two assists - is now tied for eighth all-time in career assists with 12 and has 46 career points, good for eighth on that list.

 

Sanger registered her second shutout of the season - the fourth of her career - and won her 10th career game in the victory, while making seven saves. Rowe suffered the loss, despite making six saves in the contest.

La Salle (5-4-1, 1-1-0 A-10) is next in action hosting Duquesne (Friday, 7 PM) and Saint Bonaventure (Sunday, 1 PM) next weekend at McCarthy Stadium.