Field Hockey | September 10, 2023

Box Score CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Explorers field hockey comes out with a 4-3 victory over the Villanova Wildcats Sunday afternoon. This is the team's fourth win of the year bringing them to 4-2 overall.
 
La Salle will return to the field next Friday, September 15^th for their first A-10 Conference matchup against Lockhaven.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Shots early in the game were fired off mainly by the Explorers, but towards the end of the first quarter the Wildcats took control.
• Meghan Mitchell got the first goal of the game 11 minutes into the game. One minute later Villanova scored their second.
• Emma Schwartz gave Nova the early 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• Soon into the second frame of play, Sofia Pla broke open the scoring for La Salle. She cut the Nova lead in half with her first goal of the season.
• Tatum Johnson scored the equalizer for La Salle in the 20^th minute of play, which would send the teams into the half tied at two goals.
• The third quarter remained scoreless up until Clara Larripa gave La Salle the lead with less than 30 seconds to go in the quarter. La Salle would be up 3-2 entering the final 15 minutes of play.
• Villanova would respond early in the fourth with Mitchell scoring her second goal of the game to tie things back up.
• Teams would exchange shots throughout the rest of the game, but only one found the back of the cage. Tatum Johnson assisted on the game-winning goal by Sol Espona with only a few minutes remaining in the game.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• 41 shots were taken between the two teams, 18 for La Salle and 23 for Villanova.
• Espona notched her fourth goal of the season, none bigger than the game-winner today.
• Larripa also scored her fourth goal this season, tying her and Espona at the top of the team.
• The Wildcats had 16 corners throughout, La Salle with four.
• Emily Streib faced plenty of shots and saved nine total by the end.