PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's soccer squad returns home to McCarthy Stadium on Friday to kick off four straight home games and the final homestand of the 2012 season.

Richmond Spiders (4-9, 0-4 Atlantic 10) @ La Salle Explorers (8-3-2, 2-1 Atlantic 10)
Friday, October 19, 2012 | 7 PM
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VCU Rams (7-2-3, 3-1 Atlantic 10) @ La Salle Explorers (8-3-2, 2-1 Atlantic 10)
Sunday, October 21, 2012 | 1 PM
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Scouting the Explorers

The Explorers are coming off of a split last weekend, cruising past George Washington 4-0 on Friday before falling 3-0 at then-No. 16 Charlotte on Sunday. Four different Explorers scored against GW to give Head Coach Pat Farrell his 200th career win, including Joe Farrell, Rob Friskey, Jason Plumhoff and Jason Spieker.

Plumhoff recorded a three-point day, also assisting on Farrell's game winner. Spieker came off the bench for the first time this season and netted his first collegiate goal on his first attempted shot.

Plumhoff and Farrell lead the squad in scoring with 11 points each on four goals and three assists.

Keeper John McCarthy recorded his seventh shutout of the season, leading the Atlantic 10 in that category. He is currently tied with former Explorer Stash Graham (2001-04) atop the school record list with 21 career shutouts, and will set a new school record with one more. His .869 save percentage is second in the Atlantic 10 and sixth nationally and ranks third in the A-10 with a scant 0.80 goals against average.

The Explorers overall sit in a tie for sixth place in the Atlantic 10 with six points. The team is third in the league in goals against average and has more shutouts than any other conference team this season.


Scouting the Spiders

Richmond has been struggling and is still looking for its first Atlantic 10 win of the season. The Spiders were downed 6-0 at Butler on Friday. They took a 1-0 lead at No. 22 Saint Louis before giving up two unanswered goals, including the decisive score in the 86th minute, to fall 2-1.

The Spiders have not won since Sept. 25 when they took a 2-1 double overtime decision over in-state rival Liberty. All four of Richmond's wins this season have been over in-state foes, including James Madison, Longwood, VMI and Liberty. They are being outscored 26-10 on the season.

Houston Oldham leads the squad in scoring, having netted five of the team's 10 goals. He added an assist and currently has 11 points. Five other Spiders have recorded a goal each.

Thomas Hand has handled the majority of the goalkeeping duties with Chris Grover also seeing significant time. Hand has played 794 minutes and sports a 1.93 goals against average and a .685 save percentage. Grover has seen 394 minutes of time, recording a 2.05 GAA and .719 save percentage. Both keepers have two wins and a shutout credited to them.

Scouting the Rams

The Explorers will face another battle with a Ram goalie, this time VCU's Andrew Wells. Wells has given up just 10 goals this season and ranks second in the A-10 with a 0.77 GAA. He ranks just behind La Salle's McCarthy with a .804 save percentage.

The Rams flirted with the national Top 25, ranking as high as No. 21 in last week's NSCAA poll before falling out this week. They are still receiving votes in the NSCAA, College Soccer News and Soccer Times polls. They went 1-1 last weekend, falling to now-No. 22 Saint Louis 3-2 in double overtime and upending Butler 1-0 on a Dennis Castillo goal in the 87th minute. The Rams also own conference wins over then-No. 13 Charlotte (4-1) and George Washington (3-0).

The Explorer defense will look to shut down scorer Jason Johnson, who is tied for first in the conference and tied for 16th nationally with 21 points on nine goals and three assists. Freshman Devon Fisher also provides another scoring threat with five goals on the season, and sophomore Mario Herrara Meraz has accumulated 11 points on three goals and five assists. Two other Rams have six points apiece.

Next Up

The Explorers stay home next weekend, hosting Saint Joseph's (10/26) and Temple (10/28) in the final home weekend of the 2012 season. They wrap up the regular season on the road at St. Bonaventure (11/2) and Duquesne (11/4).