Field Hockey | October 20, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle field hockey team returns home to DeVincent Field to host the Saint Louis Billikens on Friday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
La Salle field hockey is dedicating the game to the life and legacy of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke lacrosse student-athlete, who died tragically in July 2019 after battling mental health struggles. Resources regarding mental health will be available at the game and fans are encouraged to visit
MorgansMessage.org for more information.
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:
- La Salle enters the contest at 7-9 on the season and 2-3 in the Atlantic 10. Following a four-game winning streak highlighted by shutout victories over conference opponents Richmond and Davidson, the Explorers gave up an early 2-0 lead at Wagner dropping the contest 3-2 in overtime.
- The Explorers are 12-3, dating back to 2006, when playing Saint Louis. La Salle has won the last two-straight in the series, both 5-2 victories at home in 2019 and 2021.
- Tatum Johnson leads the Explorers in points with 28 from a team-high 12 goals and four assists. She has recorded three goals in conference contests this season and holds three total game-winning goals.
- Freshman Malena Balduzzi leads the assist effort for La Salle with five total including one multi-assist game.
- Cat McFadden and Sol Espona have stepped up offensively for the Explorers totaling four goals apiece in 16 games.
- Sofia Pla and Zhao Rodrigo have not only provided incredible support in the backfield but have proven to be key players when scoring on offensive penalty corners with Pla totaling three assists this season and Rodrigo two.
- Ryan Curley has played all 16 games in the cage for La Salle. The junior has made 73 saves on 182 shots faced for a 69.5% save percentage.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS:
- Saint Louis enters the contest at 3-13 on the season and 0-5 in A-10 play. The Billikens broke a seven-game skid with a 5-2 victory over Queens, but suffered losses against Saint Joseph's and Appalachian State the following week. Saint Louis regrouped defeating Maryville in a 5-1 victory Wednesday night, marking the team's most goals scored and largest margin of victory this season.
- The Billikens' offensive effort is led by Josefina Perez with 11 points on a team-high four goals and three assists. She recorded her first and only multi-goal game of the season against Queens on Oct. 10.
- Olivia Smith has contributed the second-most goals on the team with three. She has also contributed two assists for eight points.
- The Billikens saw four different goal scorers in the contest against Maryville on Wednesday. Lauren Pendergast put two in the back of the cage marking her first two goals of the season.
- Sasha Sander has played over 949 minutes in 16 games in the goal for Saint Louis. She has a ,702 save percentage totaling 125 saves on 284 shots faced.
- The Billikens have yet to win back-to-back games this season.
