NEW YORK, N.Y. -  The La Salle men's soccer team got off to a slow start trailing 1-0 in the 25^th minute, but an equalizer from Omari Cotterell followed by a hat trick performance from Nigel Buckley gave the Explorers the advantage they needed to down the Lions 4-1 on Tuesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Columbia got on the board first in the 25^th minute when a loose ball, initially swatted away by Explorers goalkeeper Brett Werner, found its way to the foot of the Lions' offense for the one-point advantage.
• Cotterell found the equalizer for the Explorers in the 52^nd minute collecting his own rebound off the bounce and heading it into the top of the net to tie the game, 1-1.
• In the 55th minute La Salle took the lead when a free kick and mistake in the back field left Buckley to scoop up the loose ball and find the bottom right of the net to put the Explorers up by one, 2-1.
• Brunow led the ball down the right flag off a goal kick in the 80^th minute and connected with Buckley on the left post for the insurance goal, 3-1.
• Just three minutes later, Buckley secured his first-ever career hat trick after he collected a long through ball for a breakaway down field to give the Explorers the three-point advantage, 4-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• La Salle led Columbia in shots 17-8 and corner kicks 2-1.
• Buckley led the Explorers attack with eight shots and three goals. He now is the Explorers leading goal scorer with six goals in 13 games.
• Werner made three saves. The victory marks his first this season.
• The four goals are the most the Explorers have scored in a single game on the road this season. La Salle totaled four goals in the home match against Rider on Sept. 11.
• The 17 shots on goal from La Salle marks a team high achieved once before this season at St. Bonaventure on Oct. 16.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers wrap up their season at George Mason on Saturday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.