Oct. 11, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Senior Kara Harpel scored the game-winner in the 58th minute and assisted on an insurance goal six minutes later as La Salle defeated Villanova, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. Junior Emma Ruth recorded six saves, including several clutch stops in the second half, to record her fourth shutout of the season.
"I am very proud of the way the team played today," head coach Michelle Marks said. "We played a hard-fought, complete 70-minute game and couldn't have asked for a better team effort. We are looking to take this momentum and the way we played today into our second weekend of A-10s."
"Winning against Villanova for the first time since 1986 proves that we have the potential to keep pushing ourselves to go to the next level," Harpel said. "By coming out with the same intensity for future games, there is nothing holding us back from going to the A-10s this year."
Villanova (7-5) came into the game with four losses, three of which came to ranked opponents (#2 North Carolina, #16 Old Dominion and #19 Providence). The Wildcats controlled the majority of play in the first half, but the La Salle defense, anchored by Ruth in the cage, did not allow a goal.
La Salle (5-9) broke the scoreless tie late in the second half after a flurry of activity in the circle. The Explorers had six penalty corners in a span of seven minutes after failing to record one in the first half and made the most of one in the 58th minute. Senior Kelly Dougherty found Harpel on the near post, who deposited the ball in the cage for her second goal in as many games.
Harpel was also involved six minutes later as the hosts added an insurance goal. The senior found herself ahead of the pack on a breakaway and tried to elude Villanova goalkeeper Megan Goelz, who ended up tripping Harpel and sending her air born. Prior to leaving her feet, however, she found freshman Janel Paukovits on the right side for her fourth goal of the season.
With the shutout, Ruth moves into second place on the career list with seven. Her four shutouts this season are fourth on the all-time list.
La Salle had 10 corners, all in the second half, and had 10 shots. Villanova had nine corners and 10 shots.
The Explorers will visit Richmond on Friday at 3:30 PM before returning to campus to host Saint Louis on Sunday at noon.
