La Salle Nips St. Joseph's in Overtime
from press release
PHILADELPHIA -- Seven ties and two extra
sessions is all La Salle Lacrosse needed to defeat the Saint
Joseph’s Hawks on Wednesday afternoon. Winning by a score of
9-8 at McCarthy Stadium gives the Explorers their third consecutive
victory and maintains their undefeated Atlantic 10 Conference
record, which now is a program-best 3-0 start.
The Explorers were able to fend off the Hawks in both overtime
sessions, helping them improve their season record to 7-4 on the
year, which also is the best overall start in program history.
With under a minute remaining, the Explorers led 8-7 after
sophomore Taylor Ruland put La Salle up seven minutes earlier. All
game long, St. Joe’s seemed to have an answer every time La
Salle scored, and that’s just how the game continued all the
way up until the final 48 seconds. Sophomore Mary Elizabeth Klepper
scored for the Hawks, knotting the game at eight a piece to force
the game into overtime.
Guiding the Explorers to the late win was freshman Melanie
Sarcinello when she scored with two minutes remaining in the first
overtime session after receiving a pass from A-10 Player of the
Week senior Jill Davis.
La Salle and St. Joe’s exchanged goals seven times after
sophomore Julie Mineweaser got the scoring started for the Hawks 10
minutes into the game.
Freshman Lauren McDermott, who is the reigning A-10 Rookie of the
Week for the last two weeks, tied the game for the Explorers twice
to help them keep pace early on.
Receiving a pass from sophomore Nora McGurkin, junior Ashley Rutz
put the Explorers up 3-2. St. Joe’s was never able to reclaim
its lead for the rest of the game.
The second half opened with three free position goals. St.
Joe’s was able to tie the game at three when Grace Dinn
converted on hers. Two minutes later, Davis put the Explorers back
in front as she ripped hers past Kaitlin Labarbera. Senior Stefany
McKee gave the Explorers their largest lead of the game moments
later when she also found the back of the net on her free position
shot, giving La Salle the 5-3 advantage.
Assuring that the Explorers did not fall behind again, Rutz added
another goal later on, Ruland tallied twice, before Sarcinello came
up with the game-winner in overtime.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Corliss, who is nationally ranked in
save percentage and goals against average, finished the game with
10 saves. Wednesday’s game against the Hawks made it the
fourth time this season that she’s held a team under 10
goals.
La Salle wraps up its most recent three-game homestand with a 3-0
record, improving to 5-1 at McCarthy Stadium this season. The
Explorers get a week off before heading to Richmond to take on the
Spiders next Friday at 4 p.m.
