Easton, PA – Graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach recorded her first career brace, including the game-tying goal in the 89th minute, as the La Salle women's soccer team rallied for a 2-2 draw on the road against Lafayette on Thursday night.
Trailing 2-1 with one final offensive surge remaining, La Salle's junior defender Kennedy Erdman sent a long volley into the six-yard box, forcing Lafayette's goalkeeper Caroline Apker to leave her post.
Attempting to clear, Apker punched the ball straight into the air and junior midfielder Ella Cadigan quickly gained control for La Salle and popped the ball into the air again. Apker leaped up for a second time, but La Salle midfielder Halah Lebsack was able head the ball to Hollenbach, who placed a left-footed strike from 12 yards out into the lower right corner to equalize with her second goal of the game.
With the result, the Explorers' record moved to 1-3-2 overall, while the Leopards went to 1-2-3 overall in 2026, despite La Salle having a 16-3 edge in shots and a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal.
La Salle applied pressure early and controlled most of the possession in the first 45 minutes. The Explorers placed six shots on target and outshot Lafayette 7-1 in the first half with a 5-0 edge in corner kicks.
Lafayette's lone shot attempt of the opening half was a goal from inside the six-yard box by Nadia Zaffanella in the 17th minute. Zaffanella gave Lafayette a 2-1 lead with her second goal of the game in the 78th minute, scoring off a long ball sent from behind the midfield stripe by Eva Hautefeuille.
Trailing 1-0 early in the second half, La Salle's sophomore forward Alexis Garcia launched a strike with velocity from the top of the 18-yard box in the 49th minute. Apker made a diving save, her seventh of the match, to keep the Explorers off the board.
Moments later, Cadigan nearly produced for the Explorers with a header that deflected off the crossbar in the 50th minute. Following the deflection, junior defensive midfielder Sienna Mount was immediately fouled inside the penalty area.
Hollenbach stepped up and tied the game with a penalty kick on the right side of the net past the reach of Apker.
Lafayette momentarily scored in the 71st minute. La Salle quickly challenged, and video review showed an apparent handball on a shot attempt off a corner kick, which negated the Leopards' goal.
La Salle will return to Philadelphia to take on Howard (0-2-2) on Sunday, Sept. 6 at McCarthy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
