PHILADELPHIA – For the second time already on the young season, senior captain Pat McCarthy delivered the game-winning goal as the La Salle University men's soccer team shut out LIU, 1-0, from McCarthy Stadium Tuesday night. The Explorers moved to 3-0 at home with the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a defensive battle in the opening half with eight combined shots in the period but no goals allowed.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Brett Werner only needed to make one save in the first half to keep the game scoreless at halftime.
• Then, in the 62nd minute, sophomore Nigel Buckley found McCarthy for the game's first and only goal.
• Although LIU put up eight shots in the second frame, again Werner only needed to make one more save the rest of the way as the defense preserved the 1-0 shutout.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Just four games into the season, La Salle has already matched its win total from a season ago, improving to 3-1.
• It's the best start for the Explorers through four games since 2016 when they also were 3-1. That season, La Salle finished 10-8-1 and made the Atlantic 10 tournament.
• The shutout marked the first of Werner's young collegiate career, just his seventh career start.
• La Salle's defense held LIU scoreless despite the Sharks holding a 13-8 shot advantage. Sophomore Omari Cotterell registerted three shots, including two on goal.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will hit the road on Saturday for a 7 p.m. tilt with Rider.