Sept. 7, 2008
Box Score
ST. DAVIDS, PA - In the final game of the Villanova Classic on Sunday, La Salle Women's Soccer was halfway to making some history - La Salle had never started a season 4-0 and with a two-goal lead, it appeared they would beat the Wildcats for only the second time in the series history (16 meetings).
However, the host Wildcats scored three second-half goals - two in the final 10 minutes - to prevail 3-2 and win the tournament.
"This was an amazing team effort on the part of our girls," said Head Coach Paul Royal. "They just left everything out on the field and even though it was unfortunate that we couldn't walk out with a win, there is definitely something here that we can build on for the remainder of the season."
Freshman Dana O'Brien gave the Explorers a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute as she beat two defenders and put the ball past Villanova goalkeeper Molly Williams. It was her team-leading third goal of the season and her second of the weekend and was assisted by Traci DePasquale.
With just under three minutes left before the break, La Salle scored on a restart after a Wildcat foul. Becky McGuigan took the free kick and as it sailed into the box, La Salle's Erin Brennan and a Villanova defender battled for the ball and the Wildcat headed the ball into their own net.
In the second half, the Wildcats broke through with their first goal at the 62:18 mark as Grace Hawkins took a pass from Erin Hardiman and beat Explorer goalie Melissa Sanger on the left side.
Villanova (5-0), ranked 27th in the country by SoccerBuzz, then got a pair of goals 5:03 apart and both again assisted by Hardiman. Kaitlin Ryan scored the tying goal at 82:57 and Hawkins notched the game winner with two minutes left in the contest.
Williams picked up her fifth win of the year in net for the Wildcats, while making four saves, while Sanger suffered her first loss but made seven saves.
McGuigan, O'Brien and Sanger were all named to the All-Tournament team.
"It was an unfortunate result for out girls, however, we went up against one of the finest teams in the country," said Royal. "Our girls have something to be very proud of with the effort they gave against such a quality opponent."
Despite the loss, La Salle has now scored at least two goals in its opening four games for the first time in school history. Dating back to last season, the Explorers have notched at least two goals in seven straight - the first time since a nine-game stretch that ended the 2001 season (seven straight Oct. 19-Nov. 9) and the first two of the 2002 season (Aug. 30-Sept. 1).
La Salle (3-1) will travel to the West Coast this weekend to take on San Diego, Friday with a 10 PM EST start, and UC Riverside, Sunday at 3 PM EST.
