PHILADELPHIA – Megan Patrick made 16 saves for George Washington as the Colonials slowed down the La Salle attack to take an 11-5 win at McCarthy Stadium on Friday afternoon.
 
Explorer goalkeeper Kelli McGroarty made 12 saves in the second half for La Salle, but a 6-0 halftime deficit proved too large to overcome as the Explorers dropped to 1-2 in Atlantic 10 conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Neither side was able to get on the board until 13:55 into the game, as both teams were locked in defensively to begin the game.
• La Salle starting goalkeeper Julia Dellaratta made three saves in the period before finally allowing the first goal of the game on the Colonials' eighth shot with 1:05 remaining in the first.
• Patrick made five of her 16 saves in the opening period to hold the Explrorer offense at bay, giving George Washington a 1-0 lead at the end of one.
• The Colonial offense roared to life in the second, generating five goals on 13 shots to take a commanding 6-0 lead into the half. Tori Hampton scored twice during the run for the Colonials, who held a first-half advantage of 8-0 on draw controls to dominate possession.
• The Explorers offense began to gain traction in the third, as they fired eight shots and scored their first goal of the game on a free-position shot from Maddie Dachowski. However, Patrick made five more saves in the third while Katelyn Walker and Kendall Lambert tallied goals to extend the Colonial lead to 8-1.
• La Salle's offense clicked in the final quarter, as they outscored George Washington 4-3 over the final 15 minutes on the strength of goals from Dachowski, Maddie Henderson, Emily Johnston, and Liza Dellaratta.
• McGroarty made seven of her 12 saves in the final quarter while allowing just three goals as the Colonials held on for a 11-6 final.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• As a team, the Colonials held the edge in shots (42-29), shots on goal (30-21), and draw controls (15-5) while La Salle led the game in saves (19-16), ground balls (19-16), and caused turnovers (6-3). Both sides also committed 17 total turnovers.
• Dachowski led the Explorers with two goals, her fourth multi-point performance of 2022.
• Madison Hamilton made her season debut for La Salle in her return from injury, recording two draw controls in her first action of 2022.
• Defender Liza Dellaratta recorded the first goal and point of her career, taking a clear from her own defensive end all the way to the other goal and firing home a shot in the closing minute of the fourth quarter. The junior also added two caused turnovers, two ground balls and a draw control.
• McGroarty made 12 saves in just 30 minutes of action after taking over at halftime, her second double-digit save performance of the season. Julia Dellaratta made the start for the Explorers, stopping seven shots while allowing six goals.
• Emily Johnston stuffed the stat sheet with a goal, four ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers.

 
UP NEXT:
La Salle will stay at McCarthy Stadium for their fourth-consecutive home game when they host Davidson on Sunday, April 3. Sunday's game will be senior day for the Explorers, as they celebrate their three-member graduating class of Kiki Venza, Madison Hamilton, and Erin Welsh. Opening draw is set for 12 p.m., with the game streamed live on ESPN+.