PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle University field hockey team earned a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Ohio U. in the season opener for both schools at Hank DeVincent Field on Friday. Junior goalkeeper Emma Provost registered 15 saves, including 10 in an impressive first half, to help new head coach Kelly Broadway earn the first win of her head coaching career.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Provost kept the game close during a key stretch of the first half, registering three saves within a minute's span and totaling four over the first 8:15.
• After the 10-minute mark, La Salle got untracked offensively and earned a penalty corner at the 14:17 mark.
• Sophomore Amber Blackshear corralled a loose ball at the far post following the corner and poked home the eventual game winner in the 15th minute.
• Blackshear finished the match with a team-best four shots, including two on goal.
• Provost had 10 saves in the first half and Ohio held a 12-5 edge in shots heading into intermission.
• In the second half, the Explorers doubled their lead as sophomore Rialee Allen backhanded a shot past Ohio's Sophia Boothby in the 59th minute.
• From there, La Salle held strong defensively to secure the shutout win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ohio U. held a 7-4 edge in penalty corners but the count was an even 3-3 in the second half.
• In addition to Blackshear's shot total, junior Lauren Lechleitner had a pair of shots including one on goal.
• Jillian Shive led Ohio with six shots, all of which were on frame.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will have eight days of rest prior to their next game, a home matchup with Central Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 2.
• The tilt is the first of two between the two teams on consecutive days at Hank DeVincent Field.