Lacrosse Lets a Big Lead Slip Away in 14-13 Loss at La Salle

Sunday, April 14

Philadelphia, Pa.

1:00 PM

Temple University

La Salle

Nicole Tiernan

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Lacrosse Lets a Big Lead Slip Away in 14-13 Loss at La Salle

4.14.13 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (La Salle) - Even an eight-goal lead proved not to be enough for Temple lacrosse at La Salle (9-5, 1-4) on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers closed the game on a 9-0 run to defeat the Owls by a score of 14-13. Temple (8-6, 3-2) led 13-5 with just under 18 minutes to go in the game, but did not score again.

The win was the first Atlantic 10 victory for La Salle this season, while the Owls had started at 3-0 but have now lost two in a row.

Lauren Las Ignacio scored three goals for the Explorers, including the game-winner on a free-position attempt with 12 seconds remaining. Her goal capped an impressive closing run for La Salle, as the Explorers scored five goals in the last three minutes and 11 seconds.

Charlotte Swavola led Temple with four goals. All four were scored in a first half which saw the Owls jump out to a 5-1 lead in the first 13 minutes. La Salle scored the first goal of the game just over a minute into the action, but Temple then rattled off five straight.

Swavola caused an early turnover which led to a Nicole Tiernan goal, assisted by Rachel Schwaab at 27:15. Over the next eight minutes, Swavola, Stephany Parcell and Jaymie Tabor all scored free-position goals as the Owls took a 4-1 lead. Schwaab capped the 5-0 run with her first goal of the game at 17:16.

The Explorers scored a minute later to end the run, but were given a yellow card after the play. The Owls took advantage, and Schwaab scored her second goal during the man-up opportunity for a 6-2 lead at 15:08. That goal started another 5-0 run for Temple which included three goals for Swavola and the second goal of the day by Parcell.

Swavola's fourth goal was scored at 2:31 for a 10-2 lead. La Salle got one more to go with 22 seconds remaining in the half, but Temple took a 10-3 lead into the break. The halftime stats showed the Owls out-shooting the Explorers, 19-7.

La Salle's Melanie Sarcinello, who led her team with four goals in the win, scored a minute and a half into the second half to cut the margin to six, 10-4.

Tiernan answered with a goal from point-blank range at 27:17, and Parcell followed that up with a crease roll and shot from the left side for a 12-4 Temple lead. The eight-goal advantage was matched later on a goal from Avery Longstaff after La Salle had scored again.

Unfortunately, Longstaff's goal at 17:54 would be the last of the game for Temple. After two La Salle goals, Temple changed goalkeepers, but to no avail. With 12:54 remaining, the Explorers had cut the deficit in half and trailed jsut 13-9.

Swavola appeared to score to end the drought for Temple, but it was called back and she was given a free-position shot that was saved by La Salle's Maura Malone. Malone finished the game with 14 saves.

The real barrage started for La Salle with 3:11 remaining, and five goals the rest of the way were enough for the win.

Temple will play its final two conference games at home next weekend, starting with a 3:30 p.m. contest against George Washington on Friday, April 17. Temple will be dedicating that game to Friends of Jaclyn and its adopted little sister, Lily Adkins.