Women's Soccer | August 21, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – After missing the Atlantic 10 playoffs in 2018, the La Salle women's soccer team is poised to return to the postseason in 2019. In his 17^th season at the helm, head coach Paul Royal has laid the ground work for another successful year.
 
The Explorers open the 2019 campaign at the Carolina Nike Classic where they will take on #8 Duke on Thursday and North Florida on Sunday. Thursday's match against the Blue Devils is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff, with Sunday's contest starting a 1 p.m. Both games will air on ACC Network Extra and be played at the UNC Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle posted an 8-8-1 overall record in 2018, finishing 3-7 in the Atlantic 10.
• The Explorers are returning 19 players from a season ago after graduating six. Of the graduates, Madison Bower led the team in both points (22) and goals (9). La Salle will also be without its second leading scorer from a season ago, redshirt-sophomore Molly O'Brien, after she suffered a season-ending injury this past spring.
• Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection and third leading scorer, sophomore Camaren Cox, is looking to build on her success from her rookie campaign. Cox scored five goals and assisted on one for 11 points.
• Senior Jess Shanahan paced the team last year in assists (7) and looks to play a larger role in the team's offense in 2019.
• The Explorers added eight freshmen to their roster, as well as gaining the skills of redshirt-senior Maci Bower who is returning for her final season after missing the 2018 season. She and her sister, Madison, combined for the game-winning goal in overtime of the 2017 Atlantic 10 Championship game to claim the Explorers' third title in six years.
• In net, La Salle returns junior keeper Claudia Jenkins. Jenkins had a good first season in 2018 as the full-time keeper. She recorded a 1.25 goals against average and a .788 save percentage while starting all 17 games. The Kersbrook, Australia native also had five shutouts and 82 saves.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS:

• Duke finished last season at 16-4-2 and 8-1-1 in ACC play. Despite losing in the first round of the ACC Tournament, the Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Tournament, losing in the Sweet 16 to Georgetown.
• The eighth nationally ranked team in the nation, Duke returns a quartet of double-digit points scorers from a season ago with Karlie Paschall, Marykate McGuire, and Ella Stevens all with 13.
• In net, Brooke Heinsohn recorded every decision last year and boasted a 0.81 goals against average. Heinsohn accumulated a .780 save percentage with 64 saves.

SCOUTING THE OSPREYS:

• North Florida finished its 2018 campaign on with a 7-8-1 overall record and 2-5-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
• Offensively, the Ospreys bring back their top-two performers from last season in Thais Reiss and Kendra Hoffman. Reiss led the team with 17 points, while Hoffman added 13.
• North Florida also returns its starting goalkeeper in Rhiannon Conelley. Conelley appeared in all 16 games a season ago. She registered a 1.38 goals against average and a .707 save percentage with five shutouts.