PHILADELPHIA – The Explorer field hockey team will travel to New England this weekend for a pair of games against Bryant and Sacred Heart. La Salle dropped a tough double-overtime contest at Penn, 1-0, on Wednesday night.

Scouting the Explorers (3-6, 0-0 Atlantic 10)

La Salle held the advantage in shots and corners but couldn't find the back of the cage in a 1-0 defeat to Penn on Wednesday. Three of the last four contests have gone into overtime and seven total games have been decided by two goals or less.

Only three non-conference games remain on the schedule. Following this weekend's trip north, the Explorers will host UC Davis on Saturday, October 8. The next seven games will all be Atlantic 10 contests.

Freshman Lisa Shaffer made eight more saves against Penn to run her total to 73 on the season. She remains in the top 10 nationally in saves and save percentage. Among freshmen keepers, she is second in saves and third in save percentage.

Scouting Bryant (4-5, 0-0 Northeast Conference)
Saturday, October 1 | 11:00 AM
Live Statistics | Live Video

Bryant has won two of its last three contests to improve to 4-5 this fall. The Bulldogs are also an impressive 3-1 at home with victories over Georgetown, Pacific and Colgate.

Freshman Rosie Bird leads Bryant and the entire NEC with 20 points (nine goals). Only Kayleigh Ballantyne (three goals) had more than two tallies for the Bulldogs.

Jennifer Gulloti and Megan Hancock have split time in goal. Hancock sports a 2.06 GAA and a .767 save percentage.
Last season, field hockey became the first Bryant team to reach the postseason after going 5-2 in the NEC to qualify for the conference tournament.

La Salle is 3-0 all-time versus the Bulldogs in a series that began in 2008. Last year, the Explorers scored a 6-2 victory with six different players scoring for LU.

Scouting Sacred Heart (3-6, 0-0 Northeast Conference)
Sunday, October 2 | 1:00 PM
Live Statistics | Live Video

Sacred Heart last competed on September 23 with a 6-4 win at Lehigh to improve to 3-6. The Pioneers also defeated A-10 foe Saint Louis in its season opener, 3-2, and beat Holy Cross, 5-4, in overtime.

In its wins, Sacred Heart is averaging 4.7 goals per game and just 1.0 in its losses.

Kate Boyd leads a balanced attack with 12 points (3 goals, 6 assists). Sarah Bergman and Lindsay Kastan each have scored nine points this year, while Hannah Robinson had added eight.

In the goal, Kim Stow has seen most of the action and sports a 4.82 GAA. She has made 56 stops and has a .622 save percentage.

La Salle leads the all-time series 2-1 and Sunday's matchup will be the first since 2007.
 
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