Field Hockey | October 21, 2021

PHILADELPHIA – Entering the weekend with an overall record of 6-8, including 3-2 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, La Salle field hockey will head north for a pivotal conference clash with No. 20 Massachusetts on Friday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. The Explorers will then wrap up non-conference play on Sunday, Oct. 24 when they take on Holy Cross.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• Coming off a big 4-2 win at Davidson on Friday, Oct. 15, the Explorers go into Friday's game tied for fourth with the Minutewomen in the A-10 standings.
• The winner of the pivotal matchup between UMass and La Salle will clinch the fourth and final spot of the A-10 Championship tournament set to begin on Friday, Nov. 5.
• The Explorer offense has generated 2.21 goals per game thought 14 contests in 2021, good for second in the A-10.
• La Salle is lead by reigning A-10 Offensive Player of the Week Tatum Johnson, who leads the conference in points (25) and points per game (1.79)
• Freshman Sofia Pla follows with 17 points including eight goals in her debut season.
• 13 different Explorers have tallied a goal for the balanced La Salle offense, including two-goal performances by Johnson and sophomore Paige Doyle in their conference win over Davidson on Friday.
• On defense, senior Tori Wright, freshman Grace Ferriolo, junior Emma Holzman, and Pla have handled the majority of the minutes for the Explorers, helping lead the Explorers to two shutout wins while conceding a shot percentage of just 0.167.
• Sophomore Ryan Curley has made all 14 starts for La Salle in goal, ranking second in the A-10 with 82 saves.  

 
SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN:

• No. 20 UMass (10-5, 3-2 A-10)moved up one spot in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll after an eventful weekend of A-10 play.
• The Minutewomen began their weekend by giving No. 11 Saint Joeseph's their first conference loss in a 1-0 overtime win.
• However, Richmond upset UMass to close out the weekend in a 1-0 win to drop them into a tie with La Salle for the final postseason spot.
• The stingy Minutewomen defense has conceded just 1.07 goals per game, led by a 0.838 save percentage by goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder.
• Georgie McTear and Amalie Green lead the team with 12 and 11 points respectively.

 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS:

• La Salle's final non-conference foe of 2021, Holy Cross is off to a 5-8 start to their season.
• The Crusaders have been outscored 9-0 in their last two games, falling 3-0 to Massachusetts-Lowell before dropping a 6-0 decision to No. 22 American.
• The Crusader defense has allowed 3.08 goals per game, while conceding 17.3 shots per game.
• On offense, Sinead Walsh leads the squad with 11 points, while Meggan Fourie holds the team lead in goals with four.