PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle women's soccer team will open conference play Thursday as the squad heads up the east coast to face off against the Rhode Island Rams. The Explorers are looking to build off a tremendous non-conference campaign, which saw the squad earn a 5-1-2 record.
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SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS
- After an early season defeat at the hands of reigning Patriot League Champion Bucknell, La Salle has not lost a game in over a month. The Explorers are 5-0-2 in their last seven games, with ties coming against James Madison and Lehigh.
- La Salle drew the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, 0-0 last Thursday. It was the second shutout of the season for keeper Michela Auguadro and the 18th of her decorated career. She now sits alone for second all-time in program history.
- The Explorers rank third in the Atlantic-10 in goals (19) and goals per game (2.4). La Salle has also been moving the ball effectively, with its 21 assists ranked second in the conference.
- Ricshya Walker and Haley Gschrey are part of a six-way tie for fourth in the Atlantic-10 in goals. Two games ago against Temple, Walker scored three goals for the first La Salle hat trick since 2022.
- Gschrey and Justyce Hollenbach are tied for the team lead in assists and are fourth in the conference in the category.
- The Explorers are led by head coach Paul Royal, who enters his 22nd season at the helm. Royal is one of the top coaches in the Atlantic 10, earning five trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure and has sent 16 players to the professional ranks. He was voted A-10 Coach of the Year for the fifth time last season.
- Royal has amassed 216 wins in his head coaching career. He ranks 18th among active D1 coaches in wins at a single institution.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
- Rhode Island is 3-3-2 on the season. The Rams have wins over Brown, Holy Cross, and Boston. Notably, the team is 3-1-0 at home.
- Lauren MacDonald is a name to watch for Rhody. She is the lone multi-goal scorer on the team with three scores to go with an assist.
- Megan Jessee leads Rhode Island in her eighth season. She has a 24-79-24 record during her tenure at the school.
