Men's Soccer | February 12, 2021
PHILADELPHIA – After months of waiting due to COVID-19, the La Salle men's soccer season is set to begin on Saturday when the Explorers visit Philadelphia Soccer Six foe Villanova. The match will begin at 1 p.m. and will be available to watch via stream.
EXPLORER EXPECTATIONS
- Head coach Rob Irvine returns 17 players from last season's team, losing only one starter to graduation in the process.
- Seven of La Salle's top eight point scorers from a season ago are back for this season as well as both goalkeepers who saw action.
- Additionally, Irvine brought in a balanced group of 12 newcomers to the program, including four international players.
- The Explorers were tied with Massachusetts for eighth in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll, sitting just one point behind seventh place.
LOOKING BACK ON LAST SEASON
- La Salle exceeded expectations last season, finishing 8-9-1 overall and 4-4 in the Atlantic 10.
- The Explorers finished sixth in the league after being picked 13th in the A-10 preseason coaches' poll.
- It was an improvement of five wins from the previous season and the squad made the Atlantic 10 tournament for the first time since 2016.
- Defense was a big factor for the Explorers as the backline anchored the team to four shutouts.
WHO TO WATCH
- Junior Nigel Buckley returns at forward after tying for the team lead with five goals a season ago. He started in 17 of the 18 games and tallied the game-winning goal in a two-goal performance against Robert Morris.
- Sophomore Franc Gamiz Quer made a major impact as a defender in his first season after coming over from Spain, tallying two goals and two assists while earning All-Rookie honors from the Atlantic 10 and Soccer Six.
- Junior Omari Cotterell posted a pair of goals and three assists last season, including an overtime game-winner against Duquesne. Fellow junior Sam DeCencio started in all 18 matches as he and classmate Ike Hollinger each contributed six points apiece as well.
- Sophomore Carlos Mora and junior Brett Werner split time fairly evenly in goal a season ago. Mora posted three clean sheets over seven starts, while Werner had two shutouts and made 55 saves.
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
- The Wildcats went 9-8-1 last season but struggled in the Big East, going 2-6-1 in league play.
- The two teams met at McCarthy Stadium last season, with La Salle suffering a heartbreaking defeat as Villanova scored the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute. Isak Sedin tallied a goal in the game, while Luis Puchol recorded an assist.
- Villanova defeated Akron, 1-0, in a scrimmage on Feb. 6.
- Lyam Mackinnon is back after leading the 'Cats with eight points on two goals and four assists last season, while Carson Williams returns in net after starting all 18 games a season ago and posting an eye-popping 0.76 goals against average.
