Philadelphia, PA – The La Salle women's soccer team's late second-half rally fell just short as the Explorers lost 2-1 to Columbia on Sunday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium.
La Salle dropped to 1-3-1 overall in 2026, while Columbia earned its first win of the season to move to 1-1-2. Columbia held a slight 14-13 edge in total shots, while the Explorers had a 5-2 advantage in shots on target.
Trailing 2-0 in the 80th minute, Junior defender Sienna Mount scored her second goal of the season for the Explorers with a strike from inside the 18-yard box. Junior defender Katerina Loncar and freshman forward Shiloh Moore each recorded their first career collegiate assists on the goal.
The Explorers continued to push the pace on offense late in the contest. Graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach earned a penalty kick with a chance to tie the game in the 83rd minute.
Hollenbach's penalty kick attempt was denied on a diving save by Columbia's goalkeeper Samantha Mahoney, who also stopped Hollenbach's ensuing attempt off the rebound to keep Columbia in front.
Columbia took a 1-0 lead late in the first half as Maya Nuwayhid's corner kick from the far side of the field trickled into the side of the net in the 41st minute.
The Lions followed suit in the 64th minute to take a two-goal lead. Gabby Chan was initially credited with a close-range goal for Columbia. La Salle, looking for a potential handball, challenged the goal, sending the officiating crew to video review. The officials' original call of no handball stood, but after further review, they awarded Columbia a goal on a La Salle own goal instead.
La Salle will travel to take on in-state foe Lafayette on Thursday, Sept. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Gummeson Grounds in Easton.
