Oct. 28, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Traci DePasquale scored twice - including the game-winner - and added an assist on Kristin Hextall's final goal at McCarthy Stadium as the La Salle University Women's Soccer team defeated Xavier, 3-1, Sunday afternoon in Atlantic 10 Conference action.

DePasquale put the Explorers on the board first in the 14th minute of play after scoring off an assist from Heatherrae Steadman, who crossed the ball after taking a pass from Hextall. The Explorers had several other opportunities to increase their lead, including a shot by Kim Lisun off a corner kick that was saved by a Musketeer defender, but could not take advantage.

Xavier (4-14-1, 3-7-1 A-10) withstood the La Salle onslaught - who had at least four free kicks inside 40 yards of the Musketeer goal in the first half - and was able to tie the game with just under four minutes left before intermission. Kaitlyn McGoldrick took a pass from Melissa Zimmerman, beat the La Salle defense, and shot from the top of the box to the upper left and scored her third goal of the season.

Six minutes later, Hextall tallied her last goal on the home turf, taking a pass from DePasquale, turning and firing a 30-yard strike from the left side of the goal to the near post. For her, it was her 13th of the season and increased her point total to 32 - the second-most ever in a season at the school and the most in the A-10 conference this year.

For Hextall and DePasquale - they now have combined for the second-most goals (23) and points (57) in a season for a pair of Explorers and the most since the 1987 season. Steadman's eight assists in 2007 is tied for the sixth most in a season at the school.

Getting the win in the net for the Explorers was Melissa Sanger, who had three saves. Kelly Farrell allowed the first goal, but the loss was suffered by Jenny Rosen, who made two saves, but allowed the two second-half goals.

La Salle (10-8-0, 4-5-0 A-10) becomes just the fourth team in school history (22 years) to register at least 10 wins, has won seven games (7-3-0) at home for the first time since 2001, and has scored the fourth-most goals (37) and registered the second-most assists (45) in a season at the school.

They Explorers will conclude the regular season on the road, traveling to St. Bonaventure on Friday with a 12 PM start, and then taking on Duquesne in Pittsburgh on Sunday also at 12 PM.