April 16, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - For the second straight game and third time in its last four times out, La Salle Lacrosse found itself in an overtime affair. Overcoming a three-goal deficit with under seven minutes remaining against the Temple Owls, deadlocked the game at nine, before both teams exchanged goals two times before the end of regulation. The Explorers prevailed with the 13-11 victory in overtime.
With playoff implications on the line, senior Stefany McKee (Baldwinsville, N.Y./ Baldwinsville) got the Explorers out to an early start with a goal just over two minutes into the contest.
Freshman Lauren McDermott (Lansdale, Pa. / North Penn) tacked on two more scores over the course of the next five minutes to make it seem as if the Explorers were going to break the game wide open. The two goals put McDermott's season total at 30 goals on the year. She becomes the sixth freshman in program history to have that many goals in a rookie campaign as an Explorer.
Temple got on the board immediately after senior Dorothy Schalleur (Drexel Hill, Pa./ Upper Darby) was sidelined with her first of two yellow cards on the afternoon.
Chelsea Rosiek brought the Owls within reach when she made it a 3-2 game.
The Owls managed to get back in the contest once Allison McWilliams and Shelby Christopher both converted on free position shots, which tie the game at four a piece.
Seeing its three-goal lead wiped away, the Explorers managed to build a lead up to a two-goal margin following goals by sophomore Rachel Baker (Montclair, N.J./ Montclair) and senior Jill Davis (Folsom, Pa./ Ridley)
Baker also contributed by scooping up two ground balls and forcing two turnovers, while Davis dished out four assists; all of which came on goals by McKee.
Once cloudy skies and light rain evolved from the gorgeous sunny and warm that came with the opening draw control, there was a brief change in momentum. Under the overcast skies, the Owls manufactured five straight goals in a matter of nine minutes, helping itself mount a 9-6 lead.
As the sun began breaking through the clouds, the Explorers returned to the scoreboard. McKee carried La Salle in a span of two and half minutes, scoring all three goals needed to even things up at nine-all.
Temple's Stephany Parcell returned the lead to the Owls only for freshman Melanie Sarcinello to make the game tied for the sixth time when she scored on a free position shot.
A minute later, Sarcinello whipped a shot over the left shoulder of Temple goalkeeper Jessica Colucci to put La Salle on top, 11-10, with 1:06 remaining. But, the lead was short-lived.
Twenty seconds later, Allsion McWilliams was granted a free position shot for the Owls, which she converted successfully. The goal was the equalizer that forced these two teams into a prolonged battle.
A minute into the extra session, Sarcinello picked up right where she left off in the second half. Her unassisted goal in the first overtime session had the Explorers up 12-11. Less than 20 seconds later, Taylor Ruland (Annapolis, MD/ St. Mary's) provided an insurance goal that pushed the Explorer-lead to a deuce.
The 13-11 lead is all the Explorers needed to secure their eighth win of the year, which guarantees them at least a .500 record for the 2010 season.
Now 8-6 overall and 4-2 in Atlantic 10 play, La Salle still looks to clinch a spot in next weekend's conference tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa. as it readies for its final game of the regular season when it travels to Amherst, Mass. on Sunday to take on the UMass Minutewomen at 1 p.m.
