ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The La Salle University men's soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss at St. Bonaventure on Saturday afternoon, in a key Atlantic 10 match for both teams. The loss drops the Explorers to 5-6-3 overall and 1-3-2 in A-10 play, while the Bonnies improve to 6-5-3 and 2-3-1 in league play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• La Salle had an edge in possession for much of the first half, but a counter attack by the Bonnies led to the first goal of the match.
• Rafael Pereira found himself one-on-one with a defender on the nearside in the 19th minute.
• Pereira took a touch towards the middle and bent a shot into the upper-right corner to give the home team a 1-0 advantage.
• The two teams continued to go back and forth for the remainder of the first half and into the second, with neither team taking control.
• One of La Salle's best chances to equalize came in the 63rd minute, when Giammarco Rodio attempted a half-bicycle kick that was chested down by a defender and swept off the goal line.
• From there, St. Bonaventure was able to score an insurance goal in the 83rd minute when Dean Mercer collected a rebound off an initial shot that hit the crossbar and deposited home his first goal of the year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• St. Bonaventure had a narrow 16-11 edge in shots, and also held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.
• Rodio and freshman Kyrese Lynch-Bailey each had two shots to lead La Salle.
• Jules Dechert registered three saves for St. Bonaventure to secure a shutout victory.

UP NEXT

• La Salle returns home for another Atlantic 10 match on Saturday, October 21 against George Washington.
• Kickoff from McCarthy Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m., with a pregame Senior Day ceremony honoring La Salle's group of seniors scheduled for pregame.