Women's Soccer | November 4, 2023
ST. LOUIS – The second-seeded La Salle women's soccer team has its sights set on capturing the Atlantic 10 Championship and punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon by beating top-seeded Saint Louis in the conference final at Hermann Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. For those traveling to the game, cost for admissions is $10 for adults and $5 for children.
NEWS & NOTES
- The Explorers (12-5-3, 8-1-1 A-10) are on an 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1) — their longest streak since 2017 — after topping third-seeded Dayton, 1-0, in double overtime in the semifinals on Wednesday night at McCarthy Stadium. In that game, Haley Gschrey scored the game-winning goal in the 96th minute off a free kick from Madison McCready.
- The Explorers are playing in the A-10 final for the fifth time in program history and for the first time since 2017. That year, they defeated VCU, 1-0, in double overtime to claim their third A-10 Championship title in school history.
- The Explorers also played in the final in 2012, 2013, and 2014, capturing crowns in 2012 (2-1 in OT versus VCU) and 2013 (5-4 in penalty-kick shootout against Dayton following a 1-1 tie), respectively. In 2014, the Explorers dropped a 2-1 contest to Dayton.
- The Explorers look to win their third meeting against the Billikens in their last 13 meetings. The Explorers' last victory against Saint Louis was a 2-1 win on Oct. 19, 2014 at Saint Louis. The Billikens have won the last five meetings against La Salle, including a 4-0 victory on Sept. 17 in the Explorers' A-10 opener at Saint Louis.
- The Explorers and Billikens met in the A-10 Tournament once back in 2019, when Saint Louis came away with a 1-0 victory at Saint Louis.
GSCHREY IS GOLDEN
- Gschrey has stepped up for the Explorers in her third season with the team. The junior earned A-10 All-Conference Second-Team honors this season after leading the Explorers in points (18), goals (eight), shots (41) and shots on goal (18).
- In addition, she leads the A-10 in game-winning goals with six. The Bethlehem, Pa. native netted her game-winners against UAlbany (Aug. 20), George Washington (Sept. 21), George Mason (Oct. 7), Duquesne (Oct. 15), Rhode Island (Oct. 27), and Dayton.
- Gschrey also ranks fourth in the conference in goals and is tied for fifth in points.
WALKER TOP EXPLORER
- Ricshya Walker elevated her game in her second season with the Explorers. After earning All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman, the sophomore was selected to the All-Conference Second Team following a regular season in which she tied for the team lead in shots on goal with 18 and scored five goals on 37 shots this season.
- Walker had eight games this season in which she took two shots or more, including a career-high eight shots against George Washington on Sept. 21.
HEY ROOKIE!
- Sophomores Elizabeth Estrada and Justyce Hollenbach made an impact on the Explorers in their first collegiate seasons on the pitch, as they were selected to the A-10 All-Rookie Team.
- Estrada earned her spot after she handed out four assists and scored three goals for 10 points. The forward/midfielder ranked in the top 10 in the A-10 in assists for most of the year and took 24 shots, 14 of which were on goal. She also scored the game-winning goal against Fordham on Oct. 12 in a 2-1 victory.
- Hollenbach became a spark off the bench for the Explorers, scoring six goals, good for second on the team. The forward also took 19 shots, 12 of which were on goal, to lead the team in shot on goal percentage at .632.
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
- The Explorers have four players — McCready, Giovanna Castorina, Estrada and Emily Banashefski — who have dished out four assists or more this season.
- McCready and Castorina pace La Salle in assists, having handed out five apiece. Estrada and Banashefski follow them with four assists apiece.
- The foursome makes up 58 percent of the team's assists (18 of 31).
DEFENSE IS KEY
- The Explorers' defense has turned it up, especially during their 11-game unbeaten streak. The defense has turned in nine shutouts and allowed only two goals.
- Junior Michela Auguadro leads the team in saves with 71 in 18 games of action. The junior goalkeeper has posted nine shutout victories in net.
- Along with Auguadro, the Explorers have received excellent play from their backline in Jillian Drumm and Courtney Gaston, along with midfielders Castorina, Alyssa Gargiulo, Gabby Picco, and Olivia Vricella.
ROYALTY ON THE SIDELINES
- In his 21st season as head coach, Royal has once again produced a championship-caliber team in the Explorers. After the team was picked to finish eighth in the A-10, Royal guided the Explorers to an 8-1-1 mark in A-10 play during the regular season to help them finish second in the conference standings.
- For his efforts, Royal was named Coach of the Year by the A-10 for the fifth time in his career.
- Royal is La Salle's all-time leader in wins after posting a 211-158-40 record for the Explorers. He won his 200th career game against UAlbany on Aug. 20, when the Explorers came away with a 1-0 victory.
- Under Royal, the Explorers won all three of their A-10 Tournament titles and captured four A-10 regular season titles (2011, 2012, 2014, and 2017). The Explorers also qualified for the NCAA Tournament five times under Royal, making it four straight seasons from 2011-14 and in 2017.
SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS
- Saint Louis (16-2-2, 9-0-1 A-10), ranked 21st in the country, is competing for its sixth straight A-10 championship after beating eighth-seeded VCU, 2-0, in the quarterfinals and downing fifth-seeded Duquesne, 5-0, in the semifinals.
- The Billikens are on a nine-game winning streak and 15-game unbeaten streak (13-0-2). The Billikens' winning streak is tied for second longest streak in the nation.
- The Billikens are led by Emily Gaebe, Lyndsey Heckel and Emily Puricelli. Gaebe was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year after totaling 34 points on 14 goals and six assists while taking an eye-popping 73 shots, 37 of which were on goal. Heckel was tabbed as the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Puricelli was selected as the conference's Goalkeeper of the year leading a defense that yielded only 10 goals all season and produced nine shutouts.
- Saint Louis is coached by Katie Shields, who is in her 11th season as a head coach with the Billikens. Shields has a career record of 150-58-16.
