Box Score

PHILADELHPIA – Down 1-0 with 16 minutes remaining, the La Salle women's soccer team battled back to earn their most impressive victory of the season, a 2-1 overtime-thriller against No. 15 Dayton in front of a packed house on Friday night at McCarthy Stadium.

“Amazing, it's bedlam here,” said head coach Paul Royal.  “This is huge, it's what we have been talking about, well now I think we have arrived.”

The Explorers (11-0-1, 3-0) allowed their first goal of the season in the 75th minute off a Dayton corner kick. Stephanie Emery tallied the goal for the Flyers (10-2-0, 1-1) off assists from Juliana Libertin and Kelsey Owen.

Just six minutes later, Kelsey Haycook had an opportunity to tie the game with a header that was on target for goal, but at the last moment a Dayton defender committed a hand ball in the box, leading to a penalty kick for the Explorers.

Renee Washington calmly struck the PK inside the right post for her sixth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. 

Just one minute and 39 seconds into the first overtime period, Washington took a shot from 30 yards out that snuck underneath the crossbar and beat Dayton keeper Katherine Boone to give La Salle the victory.

Melissa Sanger allowed her first goal of the season but made six saves in net to preserve her 11th victory of the season.

The win is the first for the Explorers over a ranked team in program history.  They have now won 10 straight matches and continue to add onto their best start in school history.

The Explorers will conclude their home schedule on Sunday when they take on Xavier at 1 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium.