John Freeman, Editor

The La Salle women’s soccer team began their third week of A-10 competition by earning a commanding 5-0 victory over the George Mason Patriots on their senior day this past Saturday at McCarthy Stadium. The majority of the game was played in George Mason’s defensive third—as the Explorers overwhelmed the Patriots with their maintenance of possession, movement on and off the ball and execution in the final third. The Explorers set a season-high for goals scored and scored more goals against the Patriots than they have against any other A-10 team in regular-season play in the last five years. Forwards Haley Gschrey and Justyce Hollenbach and midfielders Madison McCready and Elizabeth Estrada added to their season tally for goals by finishing their chances in-play and giving the Explorers their fifth straight victory.

“That was one of the best halves we’ve had in many years. Right now we’re pressing as well as anyone in the country. I thought today our movement on and off the ball was tremendous. A lot of that credit goes to Brooksi, our assistant coach, who’s done a great job staying in their heads and keeping them upbeat.”

These are just some of the many good things Head Coach Paul Royal had to say about his assistant coach, Courtney Brooks, and his team’s performance after their historical victory on Saturday.

The Explorers hit the ground running in the first half, as Royal had the team line up in a defensive 4-3-3 formation to start the game. After kick-off, the Explorers maintained possession with precise ball movement and forced the Patriots to press them early. The Explorers played crisp short passes on the turf and were able to penetrate the Patriots’ defense early as well. Junior Haley Gschrey opened the scoring with a low shot to the near post from inside the 18-yard box in the third minute after being led by a through ball from midfielder Caitlin Donavan.

After scoring their first goal, the Explorers pressed the Patriots in their own half and quickly regained possession. Seven minutes after scoring their first, the Explorers would find the back of the net again as senior captain Madison McCready finished a low shot to the near post from six yards out on a counterattack in the 10th minute after receiving a short pass from Gschery after the forward intercepted a hospital pass made by George Mason’s Christiana Grant. This goal gave the Explorers a 2-0 lead. The Explorers continued to press George Mason and quickly regained possession after scoring.

The Explorers proceeded to distort the Patriots’ defense with a combination of medium and short  passes and eventually broke through in the final third again as sophomore Justyce Hollenbach scored in the side netting of the near post from just inside the top of the key after being led by a penetrating horizontal pass from McCready that found its way past two George Mason defenders. Hollenbach’s goal increased the team’s lead to 3-0 in just 28 minutes of play.

Yet again, the Explorers regained possession almost immediately after the Patriots restarted play at the center circle. The Patriots would see glimpses of possession after the Explorers’ third goal but never for more than a minute. The Explorers hustled, outpaced, and fatigued the Patriots in every third of the field. If the Explorers were not first, they were second to every 50-50 ball—winning the aerial battle against the Patriots as well.

In the 43rd minute, the Explorers would score on another counterattack as sophomore Elizabeth Estrada scored a half volley that landed in the roof of the net after receiving excellent service on a chipped cross from the right wing. Estrada’s goal would raise the Explorers’ lead to 4-0 and be the last of the first half.

George Mason would kick-off the second half at center circle but quickly forfeited possession. The second half proved to be worse than the first for the Patriots as the Explorers led the Patriots in every attacking and defensive statistical category except for cards, fouls, and saves. The Explorers earned more set pieces (10), shots on goal (8), and dominated possession of the ball.

La Salle would send George Mason home with one more goal in the 65th minute. Senior captain Madison McCready would get in on the action again. After receiving a pass on the left wing, McCready dribbled the ball in from 30 yards out—leaving multiple George Mason defenders in her path, and cut in on her right foot to score a powerful low shot to the near post from inside the 18-yard box. McCready earned her first brace of the season with this goal and scored the last for the Explorers in the team’s 5-0 victory.

Before kick-off, Royal told his squad that “athleticism and speed of tempo” would be determining factors in how well they performed. The Explorers not only gave heed to Royal’s advice by drowning George Mason’s defense with sharp attacking play from quick restarts from set pieces and constant through balls, but also managed to limit George Mason’s presence in their defensive third by maintaining their defensive shape. This win marked the Explorers’ fifth straight shutout—all of which were earned in conference play. The Explorers play their next match at home against Fordham on Thursday, Oct. 12 on ESPN Plus.