As the first few days of fall kick-off here at La Salle University, women’s golf did not disappoint with their opening tournament at Bucknell University. The six women took the two-day event at Lewisburg by storm coming in eighth out of the eleven teams competing this weekend.
On Saturday, sophomore Kayleigh Zeman started the Explorers off strong when she placed 13th out of 68 athletes shooting during the first round. Zeman happily scored her all-time best with a 76 (+6). Alongside Zeman, sophomore Hannah Basler also led the women’s team to success with a score of 83 (+13). During the second round, Basler boosted her score to an 81(+11) during the second outing. After a long day at the Bucknell Golf Club, the women’s team was ready for day two.
Sunday also has some great competition from the Explorers as the team shot 322. Again, Basler led the way for the women shooting 76 (+6) tying for 23rd place. Not only is that another personal best for Hannah, but it was also a tremendous jump in the ranks by 12 spots, but that’s not the only good news. Zeman tied for 27th (only a couple of spots behind Basler). Best scores were all around this weekend because senior Grace Hickey shot a new score of 84 (+14). The women ended the day in eighth place, an extreme improvement from the previous day.
It was a wonderful job all around from the Lady Explorers. When speaking to Hannah Basler, she said, “The team was feeling really positive. We performed way better as a team than we were expecting, and it was encouraging to start seeing part of the potential of the young team.” Let’s hope Basler carries her optimism for not only the rest of the season but especially for next weekend when the team travels to Annapolis for the Navy Fall Invitational.
Hannah Basler was also nominated for this week’s Explorer of the Week, so go vote!
Women’s soccer faced away games against the University of Dayton and Saint Louis University this week, but unfortunately, they are coming back to 20th & Olney without a win.
While at Dayton, the Flyers were able to score just about four minutes into play, with Itala Gemelli scoring the first shot of the contest.
In the 35th minute, things went from bad to worse for the Explorers as Naya Vialva was shown a red card after committing a foul. Vialva was initially only given a yellow card, but after the officiating crew deliberated on the matter, she was sent off.
Although they were playing with just 10 players, La Salle was able to find some offense in the second half. They were able to tally four shots in just 15 minutes. Junior Emily Banashefski sent a low strike towards the bottom left corner of the goal but wasn’t able to find the back of the net.
Despite the promising energetic offensive push, the home team was able to find two new goals, handing the Explorers a 3-0 loss.
It was then off to Missouri to take on Saint Louis University, where the first half saw very few scoring opportunities. Banashefski found herself in a position to score again, shooting a shot just wide of the right post in the last gasps of the game.
Despite being outshot 5-1, goalkeeper Jordyn Stallard was able to make three saves to keep the game scoreless at halftime.
The second got off to a less-than-ideal start, with the Billikens’ Lyndsey Hackel able to put the home team ahead four minutes in.
Redshirt junior Camaren Cox took a shot of her own in the 59th minute, but the Saint Louis goalie was able to clear the ball without much trouble.
The Billikens were able to put another goal on the board through Caroline Kelly, turning it into a 2-0 contest.
Senior Molly O’Brien threatened in the 72nd minute, but again, the opposing goalie was able to handle the shot and keep the final score at 2-0.
Thank you to our friends at La Salle TV for partnering with the Collegian to present “SportsLine.” Check back regularly for new episodes here and on La Salle TV’s YouTube channel.
The La Salle Explorers Men’s Soccer team hosted the Rider Broncs at home on Saturday Sept. 11. After 90 minutes of action-packed soccer, the men came away with a 4-2 win. The first goal of the game came from Rider, who managed to get the ball past junior goalkeeper Carlos Mora at the 29th minute. This was one of the five shots coming from Rider in the first half alone, while the Explorers failed to get a single shot off in the first half of the game. At the start of the second half, the Explorers started with the ball and seemed like a completely different team. The squad came off with explosive energy on both sides of the ball. Despite this, it was not until the 59th minute that the Explorers managed to equalize the game with a perfectly placed header from senior Sam Decencio, with the assist coming from senior defender Charlie Collins. A little under four minutes after the equalizer came, the Explorers put themselves up on the scorecard with a goal from sophomore forward junior Nare, his first goal in the season. Despite this, the Broncs were able to tie the game yet again after fooling Mora with a fake and finding the back of the net at the 65th minute. Shortly after the equalizer from rider, junior defender Franc Gamiz was able to head in a perfectly placed pass from senior forward Ike Hollinger. At this point, all the momentum in the game had shifted towards the Explorers, and it seemed as if they were unbeatable. As the final minutes of the game passed by, senior midfielder Andrew Weir managed to find the back of the net, and ultimately destroyed any chance Rider had at a draw in the game.
After the game, Franc Gamiz stated in an interview, “We performed very well. We brought a lot of energy, we competed very well and the team was very solid. We wanted to win at home, which is a big thing for us. The people were there despite the COVID regulations. I think ultimately we deserved the victory.” When asked about how he felt about the team’s first win against Rider in three years, Gamiz stated, “That feels amazing. They beat us three years ago, they’re really good, they’re a big school, but we demonstrated that at home we have a better team than them. With a new coach, young players, the way we play, we can do very big things this year. A lot of people ask us if we see ourselves as A-10 contenders this year and to that I say, ‘why not?’ We work for it, we fight for it. We go game after game, we want to win. Right now we’re just focusing on the next game. We can be A-10’s champions this year. I’m confident about it, the team has a good spirit… We’ll see what happens.” When asked how he felt about the fans at the game, Gamiz stated, “I have to appreciate the fans. They support us every day, every game. It’s a big thing for us. Everyone is welcome at our games, and hopefully we can succeed for them. The people mean a lot to us, the community means a lot to us.” Gamiz had an outstanding game, going one for one on shots on goal, and being the one to ultimately break the tie between Rider and the Explorers. With this header, Gamiz scored his first goal of the season and ultimately gave his team the energy it needed to come up on top.
Another stand out player was junior goalkeeper Carlos Mora, who played his first game in nearly two years due to Covid and a season ending injury last season. When asked in an interview after the game about his performance, Mora stated, “Since it was my first game in a long time after ankle surgery, it was a tough game for me. As a team we performed excellent, after being able to come back from two goals, two mistakes from me. I’d say the team performance was excellent. In personal performance though, I’d say it was not my best game, but honestly I’m just happy to be back. I’m very excited to be back in the cage, obviously after all the time I spent out due to my surgery, it’s great to be back. The team was solid in defense, we conceded cheap goals, but after half time we were able to come back, and we changed the course of the game. Even after the scare we kept going and managed to come away with a win. We’re all excited about the team for the rest of the season. We’re ready to win every game we have; I think we’re capable of that. I think we’re all excited.” Mora’s performance comes at a great surprise to not only himself, but to the squad. The squad did not expect Mora back in the cage yet, but they seem excited to have him back. Mora finished the game with two saves on goal, after having to face 12 shots from Rider, two of which scored. This seems to be a slight hiccup for the junior goalkeeper, and it seems that the time away from the cage made him rusty, however if his freshman season was any indication of what’s to come, the Explorers might have their starter goalkeeper back in the cage after all this time.
This win comes at a vital point in the season for the Explorers. After a couple of away losses, the Explorers stand at a 2-5 record in the season. Both of their wins come from home games. Whatever the case may be, the men’s soccer team has a lot of practice and sweat in front of them if they wish to reach A-10’s, and ultimately bring the trophy back home.
The women’s soccer team had an exciting two weeks with multiple successful games to start their season off strong. On Wednesday Sept. 15, the Explorers took home a major win against Saint Francis University. Freshman Lauren Costello put La Salle up 1-0 at the beginning of the first half with a goal right from an initial push from La Salle’s junior defender Naya Vialva. La Salle stayed strong and brought energy to the field after traveling more than four hours to Saint Francis. In an interview after the game, junior Emily Banashefski stated, “We were able to come out with such a high focus and energy.” The women maintained a strong defense and remained dialed in by stopping all three attempted shots from Saint Francis. In general, the Blue and Gold squad brought serious energy to the game and got an important win on the road during a rainstorm, a rare sight to see.
The Explorers also had a grueling tie this past Sunday during the Atlantic 10 home opener against Fordham University. La Salle remained in the game through the second half and managed to come away with a goal from freshman defender Shea Collins. Although the Rams were able to even out the score 1-1, the women played smart and quick. Banashefski stated, “Although we didn’t get the result we wanted today, I think we played some unbelievable soccer and generated tons of quality opportunities… It’s great to see everyone bring their game to the next level during conference games because we know each one counts.” While a tie isn’t the outcome any sports team wants during any conference competitions, a tie keeps them in the running for A-10’s.
The potential this young team has is more than impressive. Senior Molly O’Brien attests to what this team can do in the future by expressing that, “Our team is young, and we have learned a lot about ourselves during out of conference play. We have so much potential and have worked so hard to get to where we are now. I truly believe we are such a talented team and I think we will be one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10!”. This is a great start to the season for the young team. It seems the team has managed to carry their momentum from their previous season, when the women finished 7-2 in the season, into this season. It is a much needed momentum for the team, as a good amount of the players lack game day experience in a D1 setting. Whatever the case may be, if this opening weekend was anything of a sneak peek for their season, this squad can become the team to beat in the postseason
The field hockey team was confident heading into their matchup against Towson University. Up until that point, they had been undefeated at Hank DeVincent Field. Confidence could only be bolstered by the fact that Towson was coming into this game with an 0-5 record, while La Salle held a respectable 4-2 record.
The first quarter was relatively uneventful for both sides, with the Explorers registering just three shots on goal, and the Tigers managing just one.
Towson, however, would strike first in the second quarter. Dominique Nelson’s pass would find the stick of Paige Reese, whose low shot managed to find its way through the numerous bodies in front of La Salle’s net, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Despite being awarded five corners in the second quarter, the home team couldn’t find a breakthrough going into halftime.
The second half of the game saw an ample amount of offensive pressure, outshooting Towson 6-1 and holding a 3-1 advantage on corners. Despite the constant pressure, the Explorers could not find a breakthrough and ended the game 1-0.
It was then off to Big 5 rival Villanova on Sep. 19, where sophomore Tatum Johnson opened the scoring early. Johnson was able to give La Salle a 1-0 lead about four minutes into the game, but Villanova responded with goals from Amanda Middleman and Caitlin Van Goeverden.
The Explorers weren’t deterred, however, quickly fighting back with goals from juniors Hannah Yanovich and Casey Reilly to take back their lead. The Wildcats were able to respond, equalizing with a goal from Sabine de Ruijter, and eventually winning the game with another de Ruijter goal.
The field hockey team will be back in action on Sep. 24, taking on the University of Richmond in Virginia.
Thank you to our friends at La Salle TV for partnering with the Collegian to present “SportsLine.” Check back regularly for new episodes here and on La Salle TV’s YouTube channel.
The La Salle Explorers field hockey team faced off against Lehigh (3-2) and Wagner (0-4) on September 10 and September 12;, both games were played at home at Hank Hank DeVincent Field. In an extremely close game against Lehigh, the Explorers won 4-3 with the game winning goal coming from Freshman forward Sophia Wasyliw at the 39th minute of the game. This goal put the Explorers up 4-2, with a late goal coming from Lehigh at the 56th minute, making the final score 4-3. Apart from this goal, the Explorers amounted to three separate goals, with two of them coming in less than three minutes from each other. The first goal for the Explorers came at the 24th minute from freshman forward, Cristina Dougherty, tying the game at 1-1 after a goal from Lehigh’s Drew Pecora. The second goal for the Explorers came at the 26th minute, off the stick of graduate Jessica Hewitt, bringing the score to 2-1. After allowing Lehigh to score in the 32nd minute of the game, sophomore forward Tatum Johnson found the back of the net putting the Explorers up 3-2. The goal was later followed by Wasyliw’s game-winning shot from inside of the circle. The Explorers managed to rally against a strong start from Lehigh, their strongest opponent thus far this season. The game winning goal is the first goal accredited to freshman Sophia Wasyliw during her time thus far at La Salle. The goalkeepers on both sides of the game saw a lot of action, with a total of 29 shots, and 18 of them being on goal. With this win, the Explorers move to 3-0 at home games, and 3-2 sofar in their season.
On September 12, 2021, the Explorers faced off against the Wagner Seahawks, and came away with a 1-0 shutdown win. The only goal in the game came from freshman defender Sofia Pla, who scored her sixth goal of the season. Pla has proven in her short time at La Salle that she was one of the most beneficial gets for the Explorers, scoring six goals as a defender. She currently leads the team in scoring, with the person who follows her being sophomore forward Tatum Johnson, who has scored four goals in the season. With this win, the Explorers move to 4-2 in their season, and continue their undefeated streak at home (4-0).
This winning streak that the Explorers carry with them is a change of pace from last season where they finished the season 0-11. The Explorers recorded their first win in over a year during their home opener game at Hank DeVincent field. The incoming players, such as Pla, have brought a much-needed energy and injection of life into a team that desperately needed it. If they carry this momentum with them forward into the season, the team can be a real threat towards other strong teams in the postseason.
The La Salle Explorers men’s soccer team secured their first win of the season at their home opener game against St. Francis Brooklyn on Monday, Aug. 30. The first half was significantly slower than the second half, with both teams only making five shots on the goal. At the end of the first half, the score remained 0-0. After starting with the ball in the second half, the Explorers were off to a quick start, with sophomore Justin Brunow firing off three shots to the goal, all of which were stopped by the goalkeeper. The game-winning goal came at minute 74, off the foot of La Salle’s senior forward Nigel Buckley. The assist came from La Salle’s senior midfielder, Isak Sedin. After Sedin managed to sneak a pass past St. Francis Brooklyn’s defender, Buckley was able to get the ball past the goalkeeper and put La Salle up 1-0. When asked about his performance during the game, Sedin commented, “We had a rough first half. I personally wasn’t very happy with my performance. But in the second half with all the people cheering us on, I felt like nothing could stop us. Second half was all us thanks to the great support, and Nigel was just in the right place at the right time, that’s what he does. He’s dangerous.” When asked about the student section, Sedin stated, “The student section was something else, like next level. We wouldn’t have been able to gather ourselves if it were not for that student section … If we have this kind of support at every one of our games, we are going to bring the A-10 championship back home.”
Mitch Foster, a La Salle Explorers graduate goalkeeper, also had an excellent game, only having to make a total of two saves the entire game. Both saves were during crucial moments, helping lead the Explorers to a 1-0 victory over St. Francis. When asked about what helped lead the team to victory, Foster stated, “It was all thanks to Nigel banging that goal…I thought we were better in the second half than the first half, Nigel banged in that one goal to win us the game, it was all we needed.” When questioned about the student section, Foster stated, “[The] student section was great. They helped us out when we needed it, that’s all that matters.” Even when the score was tied, students could be seen proudly cheering on their team and giving them the motivation that they needed to accomplish this victory. It was a sight to behold after months of sporting events with little to no spectators. Other recognizable players in this game included Franc Gamiz Quer, La Salle’s senior defender, and Omari Cotterell, La Salle’s senior forward. Both players combined for a total of three shots, with one shot on goal.
This was a much-needed victory for the Explorer’s men’s team after their defeat against Army in their season opener game where they lost 2-4. With a fifth-year starting goalkeeper and many senior starters, this squad does not lack game day experience. Many of the fans of the team (as well as some players) argue that this will be the year that the Explorers bring the A-10 championship back to North Philadelphia, the chants of which would be heard long after the game had already ended. With their season-ending loss to A-10 rival Massachusetts during the 2020-2021 season, the remaining players are hopeful that they have a lot left to show on the field, and they are ready to prove to their fans they are a serious, championship-worthy team.
St. Francis Brooklyn ended their previous season with a 6-1-3 record. This win serves as motivation to many of the men’s soccer players, showing them that they are a talented team, all while displaying to the fans how much electricity they truly have on the field. With goalkeeper Carlos Mora coming off a season-ending injury in the last season, Coach Thames has been putting more confidence in his underclassmen, such as sophomores Justin Brunow and Cameron Hall. Many underclassmen have shown repeatedly that they have the capability to play at this level, which has made for a strong bench from top to bottom. If things continue down this path, the La Salle Men’s Soccer team is a real contender for the A-10 championship.
Update: On the road, LaSalle suffered from a tough overtime loss to UMBC 3-2. La Salle’s lead scorer was Justin Brunow with one goal and one assist. Sophomore Dominick Bachstein scored one goal. Cameron Hall also is credited with three saves in the net for the night.
The La Salle Collegian 