Women's Soccer | October 10, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – After back-to-back conference wins last week, the La Salle University women's soccer team (8-4-1, 3-3 A-10) heads on the road for a match with Dayton (6-6-2, 2-3-1 A-10) on Thursday. The game is set to be broadcast on ESPN+ and will start at 7 p.m.
 
SCOUTING LA SALLE:
Player of the Week Honors
For the first time in her career, sophomore Molly O'Brien earned A-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors. During the week of October 1, O'Brien led the Explorers with 10 points on four goals and two assists as the team downed St. Bonaventure, 3-0, and Rhode Island, 4-1.
 
Passes on Point
This season, junior Jess Shanahan is pacing the Explorers with six assists. The Mullica Hill, N.J. native had a career high two assists in the Explorers win against St. Bonaventure and has already eclipsed her season high, doubling her total from a season ago. Entering Wednesday, she is tied for second in the conference.
 
Game-Winning Expertise
Of the Explorers eight wins, redshirt-senior Madison Bower has five of the team's game-winning goals. Entering Wednesday, Bower sat tied for fourth in the nation for game-winning goals.
 
National Attention
The Explorers have been ranked in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll during the first six weeks of the season, including two weeks where they've been receiving votes for the top 25 poll.
 
Welcome, Molly!
Sophomore Molly O'Brien transferred to La Salle this season from Loyola (Md.) and has certainly made her presence felt. The Media, Pa. native has played in all 13 games this season, making 10 starts. O'Brien currently sits tied for first on the team in scoring with 19 points on seven goals and five assists. The sophomore scored a career high five points with two goals and an assist in La Salle's win over St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island.
 
Freshman Sensation
Freshman Camaren Cox has made her mark during her first season in blue and gold. The Atlantic Highlands, N.J. native is currently fourth on the team in scoring with seven points. On the year, Cox has three goals and an assist, playing in all 13 games.
 
New Goalie, No Problem
In her first season as the starting keeper, sophomore Claudia Jenkins has been nearly perfect. Starting all 13 games, she posts five shutouts with 61 saves, a goals against average of 1.03, and a save percentage of .813. Jenkins sits in the top six in the A-10 in all of those categories, including third in shutouts and save percentage.
 
Bower Power
To no surprise, Madison Bower is one of the top players in the A-10. Currently, she ranks third in goals (8), fourth in points (19), and leads game-winning goals by one.
 
LAST TIME OUT – W vs. Rhode Island, 4-1:

• It was a defensive battle for the first 30 minutes of the game, before La Salle scored three goals over a 13-minute span to close the first half.
• During the 32nd minute, O'Brien fed the ball over to Bower, who blasted the one timer to start the scoring efforts for the Explorers.
• The tandem connected again about five minutes later when Bower sent the ball into the box for O'Brien to tap in.
• Rounding out the first half, O'Brien scored her second goal of the game, this time on an assist from redshirt-senior Julia Rufe. Rufe passed the ball into the box for O'Brien to chip in.
• The Explorers and Rams traded goals in the second half, as Shanahan picked up her first goal of the season from just outside the box.

SCOUTING DAYTON:

• The Flyers enter Thursday's game with a 6-6-2, 2-3-1 A-10 record. Most recently, the team took down Davidson, 2-1, on the road.
• Offensively, Dayton is led by Micayla Livingston, who has 12 points on the season, pacing the team with five goals and adding two assists. Quincy Kellet leads the Flyers in assists with four.
• In net, Kaelyn Johns has started all 14 games allowing 19 goals for a goals against average of 1.31. Johns has made 64 saves, with a save percentage of .779.