PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle field hockey team gave up two goals in the first quarter to set the tone eventually dropping a 4-0 decision at home to Massachusetts on Friday afternoon.
 
The Explorers move to 3-8 in the season and 0-3 in the Atlantic 10 while the Minutewomen improve to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in the league.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Just a 1:12 into play the Minutewomen found the back of the La Salle cage for an early lead. Just over a minute later Massachusetts converted again to take a 2-0 lead.
• The Explorers saw their chance in the eighth minute with Tatum Johnson controlling the ball spinning away from a defender right outside of the circle and bringing it in for the shot saved by the Massachusetts goalie.
• La Salle turned on the offensive pressure even further with five minutes left when Zhao Rodrigo brought the ball down the left side of the field passing it down Sol Espona right off the baseline for the rocket shot into the reaching left foot of the Minutewomen's goalie.
• The Explorers held Massachusetts scoreless through the second getting a close chance of their own with an offensive corner in the 28^th minute. Johnson passed the ball up top to the stick of Sofia Pla who found Malena Balduzzi off her right shoulder for the shot just wide of the cage.
• Massachusetts extended its lead with two more goals in the third quarter to come out on top, 4-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Minutewomen held the edge in shots, 10-6, and shots on goal 7-4.
• La Salle tallied seven offensive corners to Massachusetts' five.
• Peyton Tollaksen led the Explorers in shots with three, placing all three on the cage.
• Johnson and Espona each placed a shot on goal.
• Ryan Curley recorded all 60 minutes in the goal making three saves.

UP NEXT:

• The Explorers return home to DeVincent Field on Sunday, Oct. 2 to take on Georgetown at 11 a.m. La Salle will honor both its seniors and alumni at the game.