RICHMOND, Va. – In a game that didn't see a single penalty corner in the first half, the La Salle field hockey team turned up the heat in the final quarter breaking the drought in the final three minutes to defeat Richmond 1-0 on Friday afternoon.
The Explorers improve to 5-8 on the season and record their first conference victory for a 1-3 Atlantic 10 record. The Spiders fall to 5-7 overall and 2-2 in the league.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The first half was slow-moving with neither team earning a single penalty corner in the first 30 minutes. The Spiders got their best look with just under five remaining in the second frame on a reverse shot from the left of the net. La Salle goalie Ryan Curley was up to the challenge batting it down out of the air for the save.
- Tatum Johnson and Peyton Tollaksen changed the pace for the Explorers just before the end of the half. Johnson's impressive ball handling beat the Richmond defense in the circle where she found Tollaksen for the shot that went just wide of the cage.
- Tollaksen took that momentum into the third quarter with another close attempt this time from the far right off the pass from Malena Balduzzi.
- Finally, in the 57th minute, Johnson took the initial shot saved by the Spiders' goalie. Johnson didn't quit, fighting for the rebound infront of the cage eventually diving for the loose ball to sneak it in off the left post for the game-winning goal.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The teams were even in shots with 10 each and shots on goal with four each.
- The Spiders held a narrow edge in penalty corners 6-5.
- Sofia Pla and Tollaksen led the Explorers in shots with three each. Each landed a single shot on the cage.
- Cat McFadden took two shots and Sophia Wasyliw placed one on the goal.
- Curley played all 60 minutes in the cage making four saves.
UP NEXT:
- La Salle heads over to Farmville, Virginia to take on Longwood on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 12 p.m.
