Women's Soccer | September 21, 2018
PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle University women's soccer team (6-1-1) will continue Atlantic 10 play on Sunday as it hosts crosstown rival Saint Joseph's (5-3-2). First touch is slated for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
SCOUTING LA SALLE:
National Leader
Of the Explorers six wins, red-shirt senior
Madison Bower has five of the team's game-winning goals. Entering Friday, Bower sat tied for first in the nation for game-winning goals with Bri Folds of Auburn and Raimee Sherle of Boise St.
National Attention
In the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll, the Explorers were receiving votes and moved up to third in the East Region Poll. This is the second poll this season that La Salle has received votes, while they've been ranked in the region all five weeks.
A-10 Champs
La Salle started its title defense this past Thursday night when it took on Davidson. With the win, the Explorers have advanced their stretch of conference success. To date, they haven't lost a conference matchup since the final game of the 2016 season against Duquesne, 2-1, in 2OT on October 30. La Salle has won 10 of their last 11 games against A-10 opponents, with a tie against George Mason (Oct. 19, 2017) as the other decision.
New Goalie, No Problem
In her first season as the starting keeper, sophomore
Claudia Jenkins has been nearly perfect. Starting all eight games on the season, she posts four shutouts with 30 saves, a goals against average of 0.58, and a save percentage of .857. Jenkins sits in the top six in the A-10 in all of those categories, including tied for first in wins.
Bower Power
To no surprise,
Madison Bower is one of the top players in the A-10. Currently, she ranks tied for third in points (12), tied for first in goals (6), and leads game-winning goals by three.
LAST TIME OUT – W, 1-0 over Davidson:
- Both teams battled in regulation, forcing the game into overtime.
- During the 100th minute, the Explorers had a chance when freshman Camaren Cox took a header, off of a corner kick, that was blocked.
- Junior Jess Shanahan sent a pass into the box during the 101st minute of the game, that found redshirt-senior Madison Bower's head for the game-winner.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- The Hawks come into Sunday's game 5-3-2 after falling in their conference opener to Saint Louis, 2-0.
- On the season, both La Salle and Saint Joseph's have faced off against Drexel and Rutgers. The Hawks tied against both opponents, while the Explorers tied Rutgers and fell to Drexel in overtime.
- SJU's five wins came over Temple, Lehigh, James Madison, Bucknell, and Cornell, while they've fallen to #20 Princeton, Villanova, and Saint Louis.
- In the most recent United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll, the Hawks were ranked ninth.
- Statistically, the Hawks are led by Hannah Racis, Racis has started all 10 games, scoring eight points on three goals and two assists. She leads the team in goals, while Paige Bergman tops the squad with three assists.
- Collectively, nine different Hawks have registered a point on the season with 14 goals and nine assists for a total of 37 points.
- In net, Grace Bendon started all 10 games and has made 36 saves for two shutouts and a goals against average of 1.05. Bendon also boasts a save percentage of .766.
