RICHMOND, Va. - La Salle scored two goals in the first nine minutes to secure a 2-1 victory at VCU in an Atlantic 10 match-up on Sunday afternoon. Senior Jenica Miller had a goal and an assist to lead the Explorers.

The win allowed the Blue and Gold to keep pace in the jumbled Atlantic 10 standings. With a 2-3 record, the Explorers are just a game behind Saint Joseph's and Lock Haven in third place. The top four teams will advance to the A-10 Championship in early November. La Salle has games remaining against the Hawks (3-2), UMass (2-3) and Saint Francis (1-2). 

"I'm very proud of the way the team bounced back after a tough loss on Friday," head coach Michelle Marks Salmi said. "We came out strong scoring in the first two minutes and competed as a team. Today was a great win heading into our week preparing for another A-10 games versus St. Joe's."

Miller scored her first goal of the season just 2:14 into the contest when she took a rebound after a shot by junior Abbey Lawrence and found the back of the cage for a 1-0 lead.

In the 9th minute, Miller set up a corner to classmate Emily Vasey, who stopped it for freshman Megan Kida. The Oley, Pa. native then buried her third goal of the game. 

Miller's team-best seventh assist this season is good for ninth most in a single year for an Explorer. She leads the team with nine points. 

The contest remained 2-0 in La Salle's favor until the 65th minute when VCU's Emily McNamara scored. Junior Rachel Hartman made two stops in the final 1:04 to preserve the win.

Hartman stopped four shots while her counterpart, Chessa Kownurko had 12 saves.

La Salle (5-7, 2-3 A-10) held a 21-12 advantage in shots and a 4-3 lead in corners. The 21 shots for the Explorers were the second most in a game this season.

The Blue and Gold are back home this weekend for contests against Saint Joseph's on Friday and Towson on Sunday.