Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Jidell Roach converted a rebound in the 97th minute and the La Salle men's soccer squad won its Atlantic 10 opener 1-0 over Fordham on Friday night at McCarthy Stadium.

The Explorers improve to 7-2-2 (1-0 Atlantic 10), and the Rams drop to 4-4-1 (0-1 Atlantic 10).

A Fordham foul at midfield gave the Explorers the ball, and Jason Plumhoff took the ball down the field and passed to Joe Farrell. Farrell attempted a shot that was blocked, but Roach was there to pick up the rebound and fire it into the left side of the net for the game's deciding score and his first goal of the season.

"We came off a foul at midfield, Jason and Joey went up and got a little flick and I splashed it home," Roach said. "In the A-10, you always want to start off with a win and I'm excited we got it. We got three points on the table and we look forward to the rest of the games."

Both squads knew scoring would be difficult to come by with the game featuring two of the top goalkeepers in the conference. John McCarthy and Fordham's Sean Brailey came into the contest ranked 1-2 in save percentage in the Atlantic 10 (seventh and 12th, respectively, in the nation). But it was La Salle that solved Brailey first to pick up the first win of the conference season.

"[In the pregame meeting], I mentioned that we laid a very solid foundation in the nonconference schedule," Head Coach Pat Farrell said. "We're seeing the results of that."

The Explorers made Brailey and the Ram defense work hard, and nearly had a goal a few times in regulation. In the ninth minute, Farrell had the ball just a few yards out and took a point blank shot that was stopped. With a minute left in regulation, Plumhoff took a shot from a yard out near the right post which was also stopped.

Fordham's Kalle Sotka led the visitors with two shots on goal and Kyle Bitterman added one, but none came as close as the Explorers' chances in regulation.

The Explorers outshot the Rams 15-10, with eight Explorer shots on the mark. Brailey recorded seven saves in the effort. McCarthy needed just three stops to preserve his sixth shutout of the season.

The often chippy, physical game saw 28 combined fouls.

The Explorers head back on the road for a two-game southern swing next weekend. First up is George Washington on Friday (10/12) at 3 p.m., followed by Charlotte on Sunday (10/14) at 1 p.m.