PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's soccer team open a three-game road trip tonight at Fordham in a game that has first place on the line. The Explorers and Rams kick off at 5:00 PM, and are the first game of a La Salle/Fordham doubleheader as the women's squad takes to the pitch at 7:30.

The Explorers are now 5-6-4 after taking their last five games into double overtime, winning two and tying three. They are 5-1-3 in their last nine and are now 8-0-4 in their last 12 regular season conference games dating back to Oct. 22, 2010.

The squad posted a huge tie last Friday when they hosted #10/9 Charlotte. After spotting the 49ers a first-half goal, Jason Plumhoff tied it up and Jidell Roach scored to put the Explorers up 2-1. An 88th minute Charlotte goal knotted the game at 2-2, which was the eventual final. John McCarthy posted a career-high 18 saves in the contest, limiting the 49ers to two goals despite 38 shots.

Kameron Teel played the hero on Sunday when he scored two quick goals just 24 seconds apart to erase a 2-0 deficit against Saint Louis in the home finale. The game went to double overtime, the squad's fifth straight, and pulled out the win when Dan Korenyi headed in a Plumhoff free kick at the 105th minute mark.

McCarthy remains on top of the national rankings in saves and saves per game, and was this week's Philly Soccer News College Player of the Week. He averages 8.54 saves per game and has accumulated a total of 111. Plumhoff now has six goals and four assists for a team-leading 16 points, which ranks him second in the Atlantic 10 only behind Duquesne's Simon Gomez (18).

The Rams are coming off of a 1-0 upset of Charlotte and knocked off then-#23 Xavier earlier this season. John Niyonsaba netted a 73rd minute goal which was the only scoring needed in the game. Niyonsaba is one of two Rams to lead the team in scoring with six points, along with Matt Courtenay.

The Rams and Explorers present formidable defensive challenges for each other. McCarthy looks to go toe-to-toe with Ram keeper Ryan Meara, who ranks 15th in the nation in goals against average. He boasts a .868 save percentage and has recorded eight shutouts.

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Friday (10/28) at Fordham
Bronx, N.Y. | 5:00 PM
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