PHILADELPHIA – It was an electric game for Senior Day as La Salle fell to Richmond by the slimmest of margins, 14-13. The contest was imbued with a competitiveness on both sides that resulted in over half a dozen lead changes and 68 shots combined. Sophomore Allison Hunter paced the team with four goals and two assists, while classmate Bridget Ruskey also found the back of the net four times to drive the Explorers offensively.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• On a warm, sunny morning at McCarthy Stadium, La Salle started out on fire. The Explorers barraged Richmond's net for four goals in five minutes, courtesy of Ruskey (twice), Hunter and junior Mikki Raymond.
• The Spiders would turn the tide after the 25-minute mark, outscoring La Salle 5-1 to lock the game at 5-5 with 15 minutes remaining in the first.
• The two teams would trade goals before Richmond scored to take its first lead of the game, making it 7-6 with 9:20 left. Three minutes later, sophomore Maddie Dachowski would strike for La Salle, but both teams would cool off thereafter and finish the first half all square at 7-7.
• The second frame was defined by a constant changing of momentum. The Spiders lept in front with a score inside five minutes, but the Explorers answered back with two goals to give the home team the lead. It would be short-lived, as Richmond netted twice to go up 10-9.
• Senior Ashley Blanton tied up the game at the 14:45 mark; one of the day's honorees was then joined by classmate Isabel Caddick, and Ruskey, on the scoresheet as La Salle took a two-goal advantage.
• Richmond answered back, but Hunter countered with 8:47 left to maintain the Explorer's slim lead. However, the Spiders scored twice to tie the game and then, with only 1:04 remaining, they found the decisive goal.

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Super seniors: On the day where the Class of 2019 was honored, the seniors showed up. Courtney Shoults, the program's all-time leader in caused turnovers, added a team-high three against Richmond, along with two ground balls and a draw control. Blanton scored once, caused two turnovers, scooped up one ground ball and recorded a draw control. Caddick also found the back of the net and tallied one ground ball.
• Hunter tied her career-high with four goals while also adding a career-high two assists. After only recording two points last season. the New Jersey native has tallied a point in eight-straight games this campaign (21 points overall this season).
• With her four goals and one assist, Ruskey overtook Dachowski for the season lead in points. La Salle's number 27 now has 29 goals and eight assists to Dachowski's 28 goals and six assists.
• Along with Dachowski (one goal and one assist), Raymond was the other Explorer with multiple points in the game, tallying a goal and two assists.
• Stonewall Molly: Loughlin made 16 saves (second most this season) on 30 shots for a save percentage of 53.3%.

COACH'S THOUGHTS

• Head coach Katie Rhodes Abbott came away impressed with her team's display: "Tough one for us today, especially on senior day. The team really showed up for Ash, Leela, Courtney and Isabel. We felt we deserved to win that game. The team played its heart out against a really tough opponent. Molly had 16 saves which is huge and we had seven goal scorers on offense, so the balance was there. Defensively we left everything out on the field from transition to settled defense – they absolutely crushed it. The girls will definitely enjoy their day off after today's battle, but we have to keep building and moving forward, which we will do and I am looking forward to."

 UP NEXT

• La Salle remains at home for a matchup with Massachusetts on Friday, April 12th. First draw is at 2 p.m. and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.