Sept. 5, 2008
Box Score
VILLANOVA, PA – After falling behind by a goal in the 36th minute, La Salle Women’s Soccer battled back and scored a pair of goals 2:28 apart, the last one a penalty kick by Melanie Gamble, to register the 2-1 victory over Loyola (MD), Friday afternoon at the Villanova Classic and set up a match-up with the undefeated hosts Sunday.
With the victory, La Salle remains undefeated as well, at 3-0 for only the third time in the school’s 23-year history and for the first time since 2000, when the Explorers finished with a school record 12 wins (12-6). However, in 1997, the team also opened 3-0 - the only other season - but finished 5-11.
“Just in these first three games, our team has shown a lot of character in the ways we have been able to battle back in games and battle through injuries,” said Head Coach Paul Royal. “Sunday’s game should be a hard fought battle between two of Philadelphia’s finest teams.”
Loyola (MD) dropped to 0-3 for the season, but the 2007 NCAA Tournament participant has also lost 4-0 to fifth-ranked Virginia and 3-2 in overtime to Old Dominion, who is ranked 10th regionally. The Greyhounds took the 1-0 lead at the 35:57 mark when Kristina Balfoort scored her first of the year off an assist from Lina Staropoli.
The Greyhounds could have been up by more heading into intermission, but La Salle goalkeeper Melissa Sanger made four saves in the opening frame while facing a total of 11 shots, to the Explorers three. It was a different match in the second half, as La Salle outshot Loyola (MD) 9-4 and they finally broke through in the 79th minute.
Dana O'Brien scored on a header off a pass from Alex Conley at the 78:04 mark. Just two minutes, 28 seconds later, Conley was taken down in the box and the Explorers were awarded a penalty kick. Gamble, who was taking La Salle’s first PK since Alexis Petrucci was successful on one October 23, 2005, beat Greyhound goalie Brittany Henderson to give the Explorers a 2-1 lead with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
“This was an outstanding team effort and our girls really showed a lot of resilience in fighting back to tie the game in the 79th minute,” said Royal. “We were able to keep the pressure on during the entire second half and we were rewarded for that two minutes later with the penalty kick that Melanie Gamble was able to convert.”
Loyola (MD) pressured after falling behind and registered its only shot on goal in the second half – a header by Christina Gomez at the 85:53 mark – which Sanger was able to save. She picked up her third win of the season in goal with the effort, while Henderson, who was last year’s MAAC Defensive Player of the year after posting eight shutouts and a 0.97 GAA in 2007, suffered the loss.
This stretch of seven games for the Explorers – starting Friday with the contest versus Loyola (MD) and concluding with a game Friday, September 26 at Charlotte features La Salle facing four teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2007 (the Greyhounds, the 49ers, San Diego and Monmouth) and two teams currently ranked in the top 30 – Villanova (27) on Sunday and San Diego (23) next Friday.
Next up for the Explorers are the 4-0 Wildcats on Sunday. The time for the contest has changed to a 3 PM start and will be played at Olsen Field on the campus of Eastern University in St. David’s, PA (click here for directions).
