Skip To Main Content

La Salle University Athletics

scoreboard

scoreboard

Field Hockey Hosts Pair of Atlantic 10 Games This Weekend

Olivia Leaman
Ryan Samson/Sideline Photos

Field Hockey | October 2, 2014

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle field hockey squad returns to the friendly confines of DeVincent Field this weekend, hosting a pair of Atlantic 10 games including VCU on Friday at 3:30 and Richmond on Sunday at noon. Friday's contest with VCU will be streamed live on GoExplorers.com. 

La Salle Explorers (4-4, 1-1 A-10) vs. VCU Rams (1-7, 0-2 A-10)
Friday, Oct. 3 | 3:30 p.m.
Live Statistics | Live Video | Sign Up For Text Alerts

---

La Salle Explorers (4-4, 1-1 A-10) vs. Richmond Spiders (6-4, 2-0 A-10)
Sunday, Sept. 28 | 1 p.m.
Live Statistics | Sign Up For Text Alerts

---

Scouting the Explorers...

The Explorers look to stay perfect at home this season, as they are 3-0 at DeVincent in 2014. The squad went on the road last weekend, dropping a tough 2-1 decision at Lock Haven before posting their first shutout win of the season with a 2-0 nonconference victory at Towson. The team is 1-1 in conference play, having topped Davidson 2-1 in the league opener two weeks ago.

Rachel Hartman has been one of the top stories for the Explorers this season. The sophomore goalkeeper, who played only 54 minutes as a freshman before assuming the starting role this year, leads the Atlantic 10 and is fourth in the nation with a sterling .833 save percentage. She also ranks second in the A-10 and sixth nationally with 7.50 saves per game. Despite facing 125 shots (75 of those on goal), opponents have managed to sneak just 12 through on the season. That gives her a 1.42 goals against average, ranking second in the A-10 and 19th nationally.

On the offensive side, Devin Muracco has stepped up upon returning to the starting lineup after recovering from a preseason injury. Muracco leads the team with six points on two goals and two assists, with both of those goals being of the game-winning variety. She scored the game winner against Davidson and also at Towson this past weekend. Kendall Kreider, who was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week two weeks ago, is tied for second on the team with Colleen Kempf with two goals and one assist for five points. Rookie Sophie Lozowski has also added four points on a goal and two assists.

La Salle has been outscored by just one this season (12-11) despite being outshot 128-100.

Scouting the Rams...

VCU has struggled this season, limping to a 1-7 record overall and dropping its first two Atlantic 10 games. The Rams are in search of their first win since Sept. 5, when they knocked off Liberty 2-1. The Rams dropped a 1-0 overtime decision to Richmond in the A-10 opener on Sept. 19, and dropped a pair of games last weekend including a 4-1 loss to Massachusetts. They pushed James Madison to overtime before falling 3-2 in nonconference play.

Senior Nicola Breeman leads the team with seven points on three goals and an assist. Freshman Alexis Albright and senior Kendell Combs are tied for second with four points each on two goals apiece.

Kendall Clifton has played all possible minutes in goal, and currently has a 3.16 goals against average and .644 save percentage. 

The young squad has been outscored 26-9 this season.

Scouting the Spiders...

Richmond has jumped out to a 2-0 record in A-10 play thanks to 1-0 wins over both VCU and Massachusetts. The Spiders have recorded three shutouts in the last four games, including a 2-0 nonconference win over Ohio. The Spiders' marquee win came in the season opener when they dispatched then-No. 19 American 4-1. Two of the Spiders' losses have come against Top 20 teams, including then-No. 19 Michigan State and then-No. 12 Wake Forest.

Rebecca Barry leads the offensive attack with 10 points this season on four goals and two assists. Avery Safford is second with six points on two goals and two assists and Amy Cooke rounds out the top three with five points on two goals and one assist. Katrina Balatgek (1g, 1a, 3p) is the reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week.

Two keepers have split time in the cage this season. Kelley Wentling has handled about two-thirds of the possible minutes and sports a 2.05 GAA and .656 save percentage with two shutouts. Caroline McCabe has played 249 minutes with two starts in four appearances, and has a 3.60 GAA and .444 save percentage.

Next Up

The Explorers head back on the road for four straight games, with a pair at St. Francis (Pa.) and Temple next weekend and at Saint Louis and Missouri State on Oct. 17 and 19, respectively.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Rachel Hartman

#99 Rachel Hartman

GK
5' 4"
Sophomore
Colleen Kempf

#8 Colleen Kempf

F
5' 2"
Senior
Devin Muracco

#13 Devin Muracco

M
5' 5"
Sophomore
Sophie Lozowski

#20 Sophie Lozowski

M/D
5' 5"
Freshman
Kendall Kreider

#6 Kendall Kreider

F/M
5' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rachel Hartman

#99 Rachel Hartman

5' 4"
Sophomore
GK
Colleen Kempf

#8 Colleen Kempf

5' 2"
Senior
F
Devin Muracco

#13 Devin Muracco

5' 5"
Sophomore
M
Sophie Lozowski

#20 Sophie Lozowski

5' 5"
Freshman
M/D
Kendall Kreider

#6 Kendall Kreider

5' 2"
Freshman
F/M