Box Score
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -
Olivia Leaman connected for her first goal of the season in style, finding the back of the cage with just 2:22 remaining in regulation to lift La Salle to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bryant on Friday evening.
Leaman snagged the ball off of a penalty corner and passed it over to teammate
Olivia Shoemaker. Shoemaker got the ball back to Leaman at the top of the circle, who then fired it into the cage for the game-winning score. The goal was the first of the season for Leaman, and third in the career of the team's defensive anchor. Shoemaker was credited with the assist to up her team-leading points total to 18.
Lisa Shaffer was spectacular in goal, turning away 10 Bryant shots on goal to earn her second shutout of the season, including overcoming a 12-5 shot deficit in the first half.
Although Bryant held a 17-13 overall edge in shots, the Explorers owned a commanding 16-6 advantage on penalty corners which they were able to convert on for the game's lone tally.
The Bulldogs came out strong in the first half, outshooting the Explorers 10-1 through the first 20 minutes. Shaffer recorded six saves on those 10 shot attempts to keep the home squad off the board. Shoemaker took the lone Explorer shot in that span and nearly converted, but the ball bounced off the post. The Explorers got more looks later in the half, including three straight penalty corner attempts and outshooting the Bulldogs 4-2 in the final 15 minutes of the half.
The tables turned after the break, with the Explorers outshooting the Bulldogs 7-1 through 28 minutes but were unable to solve Bryant keeper Megan Hancock. Bryant rattled off back-to-back shots in the 65th and 66th minutes, but Shaffer came up with a big save and another shot was blocked by a defender.
The Explorers broke through in the 68th minute on Leaman's goal and the team was able to thwart two last-minute Bulldog shots to hold on for their second straight win.
The squad remains in New England through Sunday, when the Explorers head to Northeastern for a 1 p.m. game.
