VILLANOVA, Pa. – La Salle lacrosse fell to Villanova on Wednesday in heartbreaking fashion as the Wildcats scored the go-ahead goal with 6.7 seconds remaining. The defeat is the Explorers first away loss to its rivals since 2008. Three Explorers finished with multi-goal games on the afternoon, including senior Bridget Ruskey who led all players with five scores.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The match began as a game of runs. Villanova opened on the front foot by tallying three goals in the first five minutes. The Explorers, undeterred, took advantage of a power play as Ruskey netted her first of the day.
• La Salle's number 27 was then followed on the scoresheet by classmates Allison Hunter (twice) and Emily Johnston as the Blue & Gold claimed its first lead of the day, 4-3.
• The Wildcats struck back, La Salle went ahead with a goal from graduate student Gabby Burton, then the home side scored again with 40 seconds left in the half to tie it.
• With the match knotted at 5-5, La Salle came out of the intermission and took a brief lead courtesy of Ruskey. Less than a minute later, Villanova leveled the game.
• The Explorers scored the next two out of three goals to go up 8-6 at the 26:44 mark, and the scoreboard would not change for 12 minutes. When it did, it was the Wildcats who went on a run, striking for three of the following four and tying the game at 9-9.
• The final eight minutes were a cagey affair. La Salle was the first to find the back of the net, through Ruskey, with 3:40 remaining. The hosts tied the game again at 1:58 and then found the winner in the dying embers of regulation.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ruskey was joined by Hunter and Johnston with multi-goal games; the latter two each scored twice.
• La Salle's number 27 was one of three Explorers with an assist on the day. Hunter and senior Sarah Elias also turned provider once.
• Johnston was busy turning possession for La Salle, scooping up a game-high four ground balls. She also finished with three draw controls, tied for second most on the team along with Ruskey. Sophomore Madi McKee paced the team on the draw with four.
• Ruskey also led the team in caused turnovers with two.
• In net, senior Molly Loughlin finished with seven saves on 18 shots.

 
UP NEXT

• The Explorers will take 10 days off before locking their eyes on another city contest. They travel to Drexel on March 20th with first draw at 4 p.m.