NEWARK, DE - After a back-and-forth start ot the game, Delaware pulled away late to give La Salle women's lacrosse their first loss of the season, 14-9 on Saturday afternoon. 

The Explorers (2-1) and Blue Hens were tied at 6-6 in the second quarter, but Delaware's offense surged to score eight of the next nine goals to take a lead they would not relinquish. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Blue Hens (1-2) got off to a fast start, scoring just 27 seconds into the game on a goal from Lizzie Hsu to take an early 1-0 lead. 
• The Explorer offense rallied with a 3-0 run, getting goals from Tori Rolon, Maddie Henderson, and Lola Quigley to reclaim the lead, 3-1. 
• However, Delaware matched La Salle with a 3-0 run of their own, including back-to-back goals by Danika Swech just 1:07 apart, to jump back in front 4-3. 
• Maddie Dachowski's second goal of the season on a feed from fellow fifth-year Emily Johnston leveled the score at 4-4 at the end of the first quarter. 
• Each side exchanged two-goal runs to begin the second quarter, started by goals from Delaware's Delaney McDaniel and Sydni Rosa to take a 6-4 lead.
• The Explorers responded with goals by Rolon and Claudia Steinmetz over the next 1:22 to pull La Salle even, 6-6. 
• However, the Blue Hens shutdown La Salle the remaining 9:13 of the quarter while scoring three times to take a 9-6 lead into the halftime break. 
• Emily Johnston halted the Blue Hen run by scoring her sixth goal of the season 2:14 into the third to cut the deficit to two, 7-9. 
• That would be as close as La Salle got the rest of the way, as the Blue Hens pulled away by scoring the next five goals to take a commanding 14-7 lead with 7:28 to play. Hsu scored twice during that run to give her a hat trick.
• Erin Welsh halted the Blue Hen run with a goal at the 5:48, and Johnston added her second goal of the game with 37 seconds left to bring the final to 14-9. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• For the second-consecutive game, both Julia Dellaratta and Kelli McGroarty appeared in goal for the Explorers, combining for 12 saves on 36 shots faced. 
• Tori Rolon led the team with two goals, extending her team-best total to seven on the season. 
• Delaware held the edge in shots (36-22), ground balls (18-17) and draw controls (15-12), while La Salle led in saves (12-8). 
• Johnston and Henderson each led La Salle with three draw controls– Liza Dellaratta led the Explorers with four ground balls. 

UP NEXT:
The Explorers will stay on the road for their next game on Saturday, Feb. 26 when they take on Lafayette. The opening draw is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.