By Siobhan Nolan

Women’s soccer’s weekend didn’t get off to an ideal start last Sunday, Oct. 3, when the team faced Richmond at McCarthy Stadium. The first 15 minutes saw an intense midfield battle between the Explorers and the Spiders, where the visitors recorded the first shot on goal of the game. A Richmond attacker was knocked away by La Salle goalkeeper Jordynn Stallard, keeping the game scoreless. 

Kelli McGroarty made her presence known by creating two chances in two minutes, with her effort in the 22nd-minute meeting at the hands of the opposing goalie, and her 24th-minute chance sailing just over the crossbar. Despite La Salle’s attacking efforts, Richmond would find the back of the net first, with Jessie Prillaman putting the ball into the top right corner of the goal. 

Haley Gschrey continued the Explorers’ offensive pressure, putting the ball just wide of the net and another chance denied by Richmond goalie Taylor Montague. In the last gasps of the game, the Spiders struck again, this time with a rocket of a shot off the foot of Molly Weirman, solidifying the 2-0 loss for La Salle. 

However, things picked up when La Salle traveled to Washington, D.C. to take on George Washington. This time, the Explorers had the first chance of the match, as Camaren Cox and Molly O’Brien combined to force the opposition goalkeeper into an early save.  La Salle goalie Michela Auguadro also put her goalie skills on display, stopping a shot that came from the six-yard box. The offensive pressure from the Explorers kept coming, with Gschrey and Danielle Rooney both getting in close efforts, but to no avail. A breakthrough finally came in the second half, with Bella Gonsiewski making a brilliant run down the right wing and making a cross into the box, where Cox was waiting to slot the ball into the back of the net to give the blue and gold a 1-0 lead. G-W had a couple more chances of their own, but La Salle’s defense held strong to ensure that the team would be coming back to 20th and Olney with a victory.