PHILADELPHIA - Trailing 1-0 after the opening half, the La Salle men's soccer team exploded for four goals in the second half to earn a 4-2 victory over Rider on Saturday evening. The win improves the Explorers to 2-3 on the year, and 2-0 at McCarthy Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The contest started as a defensive battle, with neither team gaining traction offensively over the first 20 minutes.
• In the 29th minute, the Broncs went on top when Zaki Alibou scored on a sharp-angle shot that snuck past goalkeeper Carlos Mora.
• La Salle failed to record a shot in the first 45 minutes, while Rider attempted five.
• The Explorers came out a completely different team in the second half, and equalized in the 51st minute when senior Sam DeCencio headed home a cross from classmate Charlie Collins.
• Less than four minutes later, the home team took its first lead of the game when senior Omari Cotterell found sophomore Junior Nare in front of the net. Nare converted his first goal of the year to put the score at 2-1.
• At the 65-minute mark, the Broncs tied the score on another shot that snuck past Mora.
• La Salle responded quickly, this time with a header goal by junior Franc Gamiz Quer in the 68th minute. Senior Ike Hollinger had the assist, his second of the match.
• Clinging to a one-goal lead down the stretch, senior Andrew Weir provided the Explorers the insurance goal they were looking for as he converted far post off a feed from Cotterell.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• La Salle tallied seven shots in the second stanza, six of which were on frame and four of which found the back of the net.
• Rider finished the game with a 12-7 edge in shots, as Alibou registered a team-high four.
• Mora closed with a pair of saves in goal and earned a win in his first action of the season.

UP NEXT

• La Salle hits the road for a non-league match against LIU on Wednesday, Sept. 15, before opening Atlantic 10 play on Saturday, Sept. 18 vs. Fordham at McCarthy Stadium.