Women's Lacrosse | March 2, 2020
PHILADELPHIA – After winning its home opener over Radford last weekend, women's lacrosse (2-3) is right back at it this week with games against Lehigh on Tuesday and LIU on Saturday.
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS
- Strong start at home: La Salle's 12-5 home-opening win against Radford was its biggest margin of victory (+7) and fewest amount of turnovers (nine) since last season's first home game vs. LIU Brooklyn.
- The Explorers received big contributions against the Highlanders from juniors Annina Iacobucci and Emily Johnston. Iacobucci led all players with a hattrick, while Johnston finished with two goals, an assists, six draw controls and five ground balls.
- Johnston is tied for the team lead in goals with 11, while also first in draw controls with 25. Her five draw controls per game is fifth in the conference, while her one free position goal per game is tied for first in the A-10.
- Junior Bridget Ruskey is the other Explorer with 11 goals, but she has also assisted seven times—already more than half the tally from last season (13). Her 1.4 assists per game is eighth in the conference.
- On the defensive end, junior Priya Kavuru ranks sixth in the A-10 in caused turnovers per game (1.8) and eighth in ground balls per game (2.6).
- Keeping it clean: the Explorers have stayed out of foul trouble this season, averaging 12.6 infringements per game—first in the conference and 15th in the nation.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS
- Lehigh has begun its campaign 3-2, most recently defeating Monmouth 17-13 at home.
- The Explorers and Mountain Hawks first played each other in 1999, but it has been 11 years since they last faced off. La Salle's last win came in 2007; it is 4-5 all-time against Lehigh.
- The Mountain Hawks have three players with at least 20 points this season. Senior Sondra Dickey leads them with 22 goals and five assists, followed by freshmen Gabby Schneider (seven goals, 18 assists) and Katia Carnevale (15 goals, five assists).
- Schneider is coming off being named Patriot League Rookie of the Week (for the second time) after scoring four and assisting five against Monmouth. She is fourth in the nation is assists per game (3.6).
- Coming off of a tidy Radford game, La Salle's turnover rate will be tested as the Mountain Hawks have forced 12 turnovers per game—10th in the country.
- Game time: Tuesday, 3 p.m.
SCOUTING THE SHARKS
- LIU has a 1-4 record to start 2020 with its lone victory coming against Manhattan at home.
- The Blue & Gold has a strong 5-0 mark all-time against LIU. The Sharks were previously LIU Brooklyn before a merger/rebranding.
- After out-shooting Radford 36-17, the Explorers will likely get chances at goal again. LIU has been out-shot 183-136. Despite this, the Sharks can stay in games with sophomore goalkeeper Hailey Duchnowski who is second in the nation in saves per game with 13.2—but 82nd in goals against average (14.6).
- Game time: Saturday, 12 p.m.
