Oct. 29, 2010

Box Score

ST. LOUIS, MO - Four different Explorers scored goals, including two by senior Gabrielle Nolt, to lead La Salle to a 5-0 victory over Saint Louis on Friday afternoon. With the victory, the Blue and Gold remain in the hunt for a berth in the Atlantic 10 Tournament heading into its final game on Sunday versus Massachusetts. Senior Emma Ruth recorded her ninth career shutout, good for second on the all-time list.

"I am very pleased with the way we played today," head coach Michelle Marks said. "We executed on our scoring opportunes and had a great team contribution. We stuck to our game plan and played a really nice possession-oriented game."

Freshman Haley Jennings got the visitors on the board first with her first college goal in the sixth minute when she deflected a penalty corner into the cage. Sophomores Rebecca Chylack and Neelam Kumar recorded the first of two assists on the afternoon.

Four minutes later Kumar found Nolt on the right side to give La Salle a 2-0 lead. Freshman Kelly Rae Wright scored her first collegiate goal in the 23rd minute off a pass from Chylack to add to the lead.

In the 28th minute, freshman Mariel Papa made it 4-0 and Nolt added an insurance goal with 15 minutes to play to complete the scoring. Junior Lindsay Fry had the assist.

Ruth stopped three shots for the shutout, while Saint Louis (0-19, 0-6 A-10) netminders Alex LaBarge (three) and Katherine Deem (two) combined for five saves.

La Salle (7-11, 2-4 A-10) outshot the Billikens 14-5 and held a 4-3 advantage in penalty corners.

The Explorers are currently a game behind Temple and Saint Joseph's, which are both 3-3 in the A-10, for the fourth and final spot in next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament. A victory over Massachusetts on Sunday and losses by Temple and Saint Joseph's, would create a three-way tie between the city rivals for the last spot.

The UMass game begins at noon on Sunday. La Salle's six seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.