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Lacrosse Hosts Temple In Home Opener on Wednesday

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Women's Lacrosse | February 17, 2015

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle lacrosse team opens its 2015 home schedule on Wednesday, when the Explorers host crosstown rival Temple at McCarthy Stadium at 4 p.m.

La Salle Explorers (1-0) vs. Temple Owls (2-0)
Wednesday, February 18 | 4 p.m.
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Scouting the Explorers
The Explorers are coming off of a season-opening win at UMBC as they avenged last year's one-goal loss to the Retrievers with a 10-9 overtime victory. Erin McCabe drained the game winner on a free position shot with 20 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the squad to the win. Gabby Antonelli stopped 15 shots in goal, helping the team overcome a 34-18 shot disadvantage to pick up the win. Antonelli earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for her effort last weekend.

Allee Ilgenfritz currently leads all scorers with three goals as she recorded a hat trick at UMBC on Saturday. McCabe added two as did Claire Andrews. Caitlyn Brostrand and Alanna Diffendal added a goal and assist each, and rookie Brittany Edwards drained her first collegiate goal.

The Explorers, who were picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 this season, are expecting big things from this year's squad. They return nearly 90 percent of last year's goal production including last year's top eight scorers. Among those are 2014 A-10 Rookie of the Year Toni Massetti, A-10 First Teamers Antonelli and Brostrand, and A-10 Second Team pick Katelyn Fay. Massetti, Antonelli and Ilgenfritz were also All-Rookie selections last year.

After one game, Antonelli sports an 8.18 goals against average and .625 save percentage.

Scouting the Owls
Temple enters Wednesday's game with a 2-0 record and hoping to snap a string of overtime games. Both of their wins came in extra time, as they defeated UMBC by an identical 10-9 score before downing Saint Joseph's 12-11 in an extra session on Saturday.

After two games, Rachel Schwab leads the Owls with six points on three goals and three assists. Nicole Barretta and Carly Demato have drained four goals apiece, and Kirstie Connor has scored three. Eleven Owls have recorded at least one point in their first two games.

The Owls, who were picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST, return six of their top eight scorers from a squad that narrowly missed the BIG EAST Tournament last season. That includes Nicole Tiernan, who earned Preseason All-BIG EAST honors this year after earning Second Team honors last year. She was the second leading scorer with 29 goals last season.

Defensively, the Owls have recorded 25 caused turnovers to 19 for opponents. Leading the defensive charge so far is Tiernan, Morgan Glassford and Kara Stroup who have caused four turnovers each. Four players have also controlled three draws apiece.

Jaqi Kakalecik is back in goal for the Owls after earning BIG EAST Second Team honors last season. In two games this season, Kakalecik sports a 9.09 goals against average but just a .333 save percentage. She started 10 of the 16 games she appeared in last season, putting together a 10.45 GAA.

Next Up
The Explorers return to action next Wednesday (2/25) when they host Delaware at 7 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Claire Andrews

#4 Claire Andrews

M
5' 3"
Senior
Gabby Antonelli

#34 Gabby Antonelli

GK
5' 3"
Sophomore
Caitlyn Brostrand

#2 Caitlyn Brostrand

M
5' 8"
Senior
Alanna Diffendal

#29 Alanna Diffendal

A
5' 9"
Senior
Katelyn Fay

#11 Katelyn Fay

A
5' 4"
Junior
Allee Ilgenfritz

#27 Allee Ilgenfritz

A
5' 6"
Sophomore
Toni Massetti

#15 Toni Massetti

A
5' 1"
Sophomore
Erin McCabe

#10 Erin McCabe

M
5' 4"
Senior
Brittany Edwards

#28 Brittany Edwards

A
5' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Claire Andrews

#4 Claire Andrews

5' 3"
Senior
M
Gabby Antonelli

#34 Gabby Antonelli

5' 3"
Sophomore
GK
Caitlyn Brostrand

#2 Caitlyn Brostrand

5' 8"
Senior
M
Alanna Diffendal

#29 Alanna Diffendal

5' 9"
Senior
A
Katelyn Fay

#11 Katelyn Fay

5' 4"
Junior
A
Allee Ilgenfritz

#27 Allee Ilgenfritz

5' 6"
Sophomore
A
Toni Massetti

#15 Toni Massetti

5' 1"
Sophomore
A
Erin McCabe

#10 Erin McCabe

5' 4"
Senior
M
Brittany Edwards

#28 Brittany Edwards

5' 5"
Freshman
A