PHILADELPHIA –The game began in opposite fashion to that of the Richmond match last Sunday, but the result was identical. The Explorers, in their final home game of the season, went toe-to-toe with a Massachusetts team that sits atop the A-10. The result: a 14-13 defeat in a spirited, gritty performance—just like last Sunday. Sophomore Molly Loughlin was formidable in goal with 16 saves, while classmates Allison Hunter and Bridget Ruskey, along with junior Mikki Raymond, netted hattricks.

ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• Raymond opened La Salle's account with a goal a minute and a half into the game. The Minutewomen responded by scoring six straight to jump ahead. 
• Raymond struck for her second, before the visitor's answered back. Sophomore Annina Iacobucci and senior Ashley Blanton found the back of the net to cut UMass' lead to three. The Minutwomen would score on either side of a Hunter strike to extend their advantage to 9-5.
• La Salle closed out the first on a strong note, tallying three unanswered to go into half only a goal behind.
• The second frame started with a quick score from the visitors. Senior Isabel Caddick answered, but her goal was followed by a Minutewomen response. With the score 11-9 at the 27:35 mark, both teams went cold for 18 minutes.
• The Explorers were the first team to emerge from the cold streak with a pair of goals to tie the game at 11-11. UMass, however, would go on a game-determining run in response, scoring three straight. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Double digit scoring: La Salle has scored at least ten goals in each of the last four games, averaging 13 goals a contest over that period.
• Four Explorers recorded more than one goal in the game: Ruskey, Raymond and Hunter each had three, while Caddick struck for two.
• Finding the pass: usually a goal scorer, sophomore Maddie Dachowski made her presence felt setting up others against Massachusetts. She dished out a career-high three assists.
• Big time in net: Loughlin now has two straight games with 16 saves, the second-most in consecutive matches in her career.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers don't stray too far from Olney Ave. as they take the short trip to Saint Joseph's on Sunday. First draw is at 1 p.m.