Women's Soccer | October 6, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – After a dominant performance Thursday against St. Bonaventure, the La Salle University women's soccer team (7-4-1, 2-3 A-10) will return to action on Sunday as it hosts the Rhode Island Rams (0-12-1, 0-4-1 A-10). First touch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium.
 
SCOUTING LA SALLE:
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 Friday, she is tied for the conference lead in assists.
 
Game-Winning Expertise
Of the Explorers seven wins, redshirt-senior Madison Bower has five of the team's game-winning goals. Entering Friday, Bower sat tied for second in the nation for game-winning goals with four others – three goals behind Raimee Sherle of Boise St.
 
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 12 games this season, making nine starts. O'Brien currently sits second on the team in scoring with 14 points on five goals and four assists. The sophomore scored a career high five points with two goals and an assist in La Salle's win over St. Bonaventure.
 
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 third on the team in scoring with seven points. On the year, Cox has three goals and an assist, playing in all 12 games.
 
New Goalie, No Problem
In her first season as the starting keeper, sophomore Claudia Jenkins has been nearly perfect. Starting all 12 games, she posts five shutouts with 58 saves, a goals against average of 1.04, and a save percentage of .817. Jenkins sits in the top six in the A-10 in all of those categories, including second in shutouts, third in save percentage, and fourth in saves.
 
Bower Power
To no surprise, Madison Bower is one of the top players in the A-10. Currently, she ranks fourth in goals (7), fifth in points (16), and leads game-winning goals by one.

LAST TIME OUT – W, 3-0 vs. St. Bonaventure:

• La Salle scored two goals within 3:40 of each other toward the end of the first half.
• During the 32nd minute, O'Brien took a feed from Bower and Shanahan that she was able to blast past the keeper.
• Shortly after in the 36th minute, Bower drilled her seventh goal of the season after O'Brien dished the ball to her.
• Midway through the second half, Shanahan sent the ball into the box for O'Brien, who nailed the ball into the right lower corner.

SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND:

• The Rams enter Sunday's game winless, posting a 0-12-1, 0-4-1 A-10 record, most recently drawing with Richmond, 1-1.
• Brooke Osmanski leads the squad in points (6) and goals (3). Osmanski is joined by seven teammates that have also registered points this season. Collectively Rhode Island has scored seven goals through 13 games.
• In net, the Rams have had two different keepers see action. Haley Brennan has started nine of the team's 13 contests, with Julia Freeman starting the other four. Brennan has picked up the last eight decisions for Rhode Island, posting a record of 0-9-1. On the year, Brennan has allowed 18 goals for a goals against average of 1.94, making 73 saves with a save percentage of .802.
• Statistically, Rhode Island has been slow to start games, only scoring one of its seven goals in the first half.