Women's Lacrosse | September 12, 2014
PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle lacrosse team, hot off the heels of an Atlantic 10 Tournament in the spring, is eager to get back on the field with a solid core of returners and a crop of talented freshmen. The Explorers will play in five tournaments throughout September and October, along with an alumni game pitting the current squad against former Explorer laxers.
The fall season kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Hofstra University on Long Island. The Explorers will be among 15 teams competing in the Nick Colleluori Women's Classic, which is held in conjunction with the HEADstrong Foundation and helps raise awareness and support the fight against blood cancer. All participating teams will wear Laces for Lymphoma™ to show their support for the cause. La Salle will face four squads that day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In the morning, the Explorers will face 2014 Division II national semifinalist LIU Post (9:50 am) and the HEADstrong Foundation team (10:40 am). Post finished third in the IWLCA Division II poll last season, and won the D-II national title the year prior. Following a lunch break, the squad will face Stony Brook at 2:40 pm. The contest against the Seawolves will be a true early test for the squad as Stony Brook finished the 2014 season ranked in the IWLCA Top 20, won the America East title and advanced to the NCAA Second Round. They will wrap up the day against the squad from the New York Athletic Club at 3:30 pm.
The Explorers return to action the following Sunday (10/5) with a tournament at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md. The squad will face San Diego State and Bucknell, with times yet to be determined. The Explorers and Aztecs are familiar foes, having met in both 2012 and 2013. The Explorers edged the Aztecs in both games, 10-8 in 2012 and 14-13 in 2013. The squad has played Bucknell four times in regular season history, but not since 2008.
The squad heads to Bucknell the following weekend (Sun. 10/12) for a tournament, where the Explorers will play Robert Morris and Keio University of Japan. Robert Morris went 5-2 in the Northeast Conference last season and were NEC Tournament semifinalists. The Explorers will get a new experience as well, playing against international counterparts. Keio University is one of the premier collegiate lacrosse programs in Japan.
The team returns to Philly on Oct. 18, hosting an Alumni Day and playing a friendly against former Explorers. The following day, the Explorers head to Temple for the annual Philly 5 Tournament, which includes host Temple, Saint Joseph's, Villanova and Drexel.
The fall season wraps up on Oct. 25 with the La Salle Play Day. Wagner and St. Francis along with two more teams yet to be determined will compete in a tournament at McCarthy Stadium.
The Explorers, who have been working hard in preseason training which included a team cross training competition, are eager to get on the field and see what this year's talented group can do against some very good fall competition.
