CNBNews

ESPN (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Explorers to appear on ESPN five times PHILADELPHIA – A school record 14 national television appearances highlight the 2013-14 La Salle men’s basketball schedule, which was completed today with the announcement of the Atlantic 10 slate by the conference office. The Explorers will appear on the ESPN family of networks five times, CBS Sports Network five times and NBC Sports Network four times. Additional television opportunities will be announced when they are available. “Our 2013-14 schedule provides many challenges and opportunities,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said. “The national exposure our program will receive is important for many reasons. Personally, I am eager for basketball fans around the country to see the incredible enthusiasm of our students and the exciting atmosphere of a packed Gola Arena.” “The Atlantic 10 is proud to be partnered with three of the largest and best media companies in the world;... Read more →

press release HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Senior Mariel Papa (Gibbsboro, N.J./Eastern Regional) opened the game with a quick score, but Hofstra rallied to take a 5-1 win over La Salle in the season opener for both squads in the Asics Invitational at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium. Papa tipped in a shot by rookie Devin Muracco (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) just 5:54 into the contest to spot the Explorers (0-1) an early 1-0 lead. Hofstra's Stella Schoen drained the first of her three goals just six minutes later and Marta Penas added a score at 14:38 as the Pride (1-0) gained a lead they would never relinquish. Schoen scored again at 24:07 on a Penas assist and added the game's final score at 62:33. Jonel Boileau added three points with a goal at 45:32 and an assist on Schoen's first score. The Pride offense was relentless, peppering La Salle keeper Lisa Shaffer... Read more →

Molly Gallagher August 26, 201 PHILADELPHIA- La Salle women's soccer player Kelsey Haycook has been named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for the fifth time in her career, as announced by the conference office this morning. In the Explorers' opening weekend, Haycook had a hand in each of La Salle's goals netting two, including a game-winner, and adding a game-winning assist. Against Old Dominion, Haycook found the back of the net in the 50th minute off a through ball from classmate Anna Dolhansky to give La Salle the 1-0 victory. The goal was the 26th of Haycook's career, giving her sole possession of fifth place all-time for the Explorers. Haycook's efforts in that outing propelled La Salle to the program's seventh consecutive season-opening win. Later in the weekend, Haycook scored her second goal of the season in the 71st minute, knocking in her own rebound as the equalizer. Just... Read more →

Box Score HARRISONBURG, Va.- La Salle women's soccer scored two second half goals to come from behind and defeat James Madison University, 2-1. With the win, the Explorers claimed the 2013 Fairfield Inn by Marriot Invitational title outright, only the second tournament title during head coach Paul Royal's tenure. Junior Kelsey Haycook scored her second goal of the season in the 71st minute, knocking in her own rebound as the equalizer. Haycook's goal came less than a minute after James Madison nearly took a 2-0 lead, burying a goal that was called back due to an offside call against the Dukes. Just over seven minutes later, senior Renee Washington buried a pass played from Ana Dolhansky who received a through ball from Haycook and found Washington primed for the shot within the 18. "The game is all about momentum shifts," head coach Paul Royal said. "Two [goals] obviously was enough... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle women's soccer player Renee Washington has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, it was announced yesterday. She is one of 30 NCAA Division I women's soccer student-athletes selected for excelling both on and off the field. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. Washington enters her senior season with a full trophy shelf, including NSCAA All-America, first team All-Atlantic 10 honors, and all-region recognition during her career. Entering the 2013 season Washington is among the leaders in several all-time categories at La Salle including third in goals, fourth in points and eighth in assists, and has thrice been recognized as an Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team member. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in... Read more →

The Palestra (Photo credit: Wikipedia) press release August 14, 2013 PHILADELPHIA – ESPN College GameDay Covered By State Farm, the eight-week national studio show that airs Saturdays, will visit The Palestra on January 18 before La Salle takes on Temple at noon. College GameDay will begin at 10 AM on ESPNU and continues at 11 AM on ESPN. The La Salle versus Temple game will also appear on ESPN or ESPN2. In addition to this year’s La Salle-Temple game being played at the Palestra, both schools agreed that the 2014-15 edition will also be played at The Palestra. La Salle will be the home team this season with Temple hosting in 2014-15. The schools agreed to bring the game to The Palestra for two straight seasons for the opportunity to bring ESPN GameDay to Philadelphia. Tickets for the game will be split evenly between the two schools and the student... Read more →

PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 14, 2013 By MOLLY GALLAGHER PHILADELPHIA- Coming off their second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, La Salle University women's soccer has been selected to finish second in the Atlantic 10 according to preseason voting conducted by the 13 head coaches. The 2012 Atlantic 10 Champions, La Salle entered last year's tournament as the top seed after remaining undefeated in conference play for the second consecutive year—an impressive streak dating back to October 29, 2010 and spanning 18 games. La Salle went on to defeat Charlotte, Butler and VCU during the tournament to secure its first-ever Championship title and automatic NCAA tournament bid. The Explorers return six starters including 2012 Defender of the Year Courtney Niemiec, CoSIDA Academic All-American Renee Washington and 2011 All-American Kelsey Haycook—all of whom were selected for the Preseason All-Conference team. La Salle was selected behind Dayton in the preseason poll. In their last meeting,... Read more →

La Salle Explorers Basketball athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia) press release/August 12, 2013 PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men’s basketball team will host Quinnipiac at 9 AM on ESPN2 on Tuesday, November 12 in the Sixth Annual ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, it was announced today. The contest will be one of more than a dozen games over 24 hours. “The College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon is a highly creative idea that has become extremely popular,” La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini said. “Its 24 hours of hoops caters to the nation’s die-hard basketball fans and kicks off the season. We are thrilled to be a part of it and welcome the basketball viewing nation to Gola Arena for an exciting contest. “Quinnipiac returns many top players from a winning team. Its talented, veteran squad will be a very challenging opponent for us.” This will mark the second time La... Read more →

La Salle Explorers Basketball athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Explorers to open season on November 9 vs. Manhattan PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men’s basketball team, coming off a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, will open the 2013-14 schedule by hosting Manhattan on November 9, head coach Dr. John Giannini announced today. The Atlantic 10 portion of the schedule will be announced at a later date. “Fifty percent of the RPI is based on opponents’ records,” Giannini said. “With that in mind, we made every effort to schedule teams expected to have winning seasons and contend for conference championships. “We also have games against teams representing the top conferences in the country. Our schedule will challenge us and gives us a chance to earn a high RPI, quality wins and build a postseason resume.” The Explorers will host the Jaspers, the runner-up in the MAAC Tournament, in the season... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA - Gabrielle Pakhtigian has been named the 2012-13 Atlantic 10 Conference co-Scholar-Athlete Athlete of the Year, it was announced by the Conference office yesterday. Voted on by the league's Directors of Athletics, the award is given to the best overall male and female student-athlete, based on their athletic success and academic prowess. There was a tie in the voting for both the men's and women's award, marking the first tie in the voting since 1995-96 and the first-ever tie for the women's award. “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to represent our team and school in this way,” Pakhtigian said. “The La Salle women's soccer family means the world to me and I'm honored to represent the talent of such a special group of people.” Pakhtigian, who last week was named one of two Atlantic 10 NCAA Woman of the Year nominees, graduated in May with... Read more →

SEACAUCUS, N.J. – La Salle pitcher Pat Christensen was selected by the Houston Astros in the 27th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday afternoon. The recent graduate was chosen with the 797th overall pick, becoming the first Explorer to hear his name called on draft day since Cody Weiss in 2011. “We’re extremely excited for Pat to get the opportunity to pitch professionally,” La Salle head coach Mike Lake said. “He’s earned every bit of this opportunity. “To have a player and person of Pat’s stature at La Salle over the past four years has meant the world to our program. We wish him the best of luck at the next level.” Christensen finished his career with 44 career saves, good for fifth-most in NCAA Division I history. In addition, the La Jolla, Calif. native posted an all-time program-best 2.73 career ERA. He finished... Read more →

May 7, 2013 PHILADELPHIA - The 11th Annual Friends of Bill Raftery Golf Outing will be held at North Hills Country Club on Monday, June 17, 2013 and will celebrate the 2012-13 La Salle men's basketball team and its run to the "Sweet 16". ESPN and CBS college basketball analyst Bill Raftery '63 will once again serve as Honorary Chairman for the Golf Outing. The outing will honor Bill “Speedy” Morris for his 15 seasons of service as the head men's basketball coach at La Salle. The outing is coordinated by the "Friends of Bill Raftery" Golf Committee, in collaboration with the La Salle Athletic Development. Funds raised during the golf outing directly benefit the La Salle men's basketball program. La Salle University welcomes back Speedy Morris as this year's honoree. Speedy compiled a school record 238 wins and reached the postseason six times, including four NCAA appearances. His best... Read more →

Box Score Box Score (PDF) OLEAN, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure used two eighth inning runs to knock off the La Salle baseball team, 7-5, on Saturday afternoon at Fred Handler Park. Sophomore Kevin Conroy(3-4, RBI, 2 runs) paced the Explorer offense and sophomore Ryan Welling notched a 2-3 line with a run and RBI. Conroy jump started the La Salle in the first, depositing a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. Junior George Smith, Jr. (1-3, RBI) doubled home Welling in the second, who worked a two-out walk to keep the inning alive. Two more Explorers touched home in the third on sophomore Justin Korenblatt's (1-5, 2 RBI) fifth triple of the season to open up a 4-0 lead. Not to be turned away on their senior day, the Bonnies (18-25, 8-13) began chipping at the lead in the bottom of the third and proceeded... Read more →

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2013/5/10/BB_0510130328.aspx?path=baseball May 10, 2013 OLEAN, N.Y. – The La Salle baseball team swept St. Bonaventure on Friday afternoon, 7-3 and 6-4, to improve its Atlantic 10 record to 16-5 on the season. With the victories, the Explorers broke the program’s previous high wins mark in the conference of 14, set in 2010. The Blue and Gold evened up their season record at 23-23 while the Bonnies slid to 17-25. Game 1 La Salle struck first in game one, mounting a two-spot in the third inning RBI doubles from senior Dan Klem (1-2) and sophomore Kevin Conroy (2-4). The Explorers added another in the fifth on a Kevin Baron (0-3) sacrifice fly to lead 3-0. The Blue and Gold picked up two unearned runs in the sixth and notched two more in the seventh via Conroy and Justin Korenblatt (1-4) RBI to create a 7-0 advantage. In the meantime, junior Shawn... Read more →

May 8, 2013 NEWPORT NEWS, Va. –The Atlantic 10 Conference Council of Presidents has unanimously voted to formally accept an application for membership from Davidson College the league announced Wednesday. A prestigious private institution in Davidson, N.C., the Wildcat athletic program sponsors 19 of the Atlantic 10’s 21 championship sports. Davidson will join the A-10 on July 1, 2014 and begin competition in the 2014-15 academic year. Located just north of Charlotte within the Atlantic 10 footprint, the Wildcats have a tradition of excellence in intercollegiate athletics led by men’s basketball, a successful women’s basketball program and strong Olympic sports programs. Consistently ranked in the top ten of the best Liberal Arts schools in the United States, Davidson’s academic programs are among the best in the nation. "All of us in the Atlantic 10 are delighted to add such an academically distinguished and athletically competitive institution to our conference," said... Read more →

SEE MORE SPORT SCORES AND RESULTS ROWAN BASEBALL WINS NJAC CHAMPIONSHIP UNION, NJ – The Rowan University baseball team defeated Ramapo College, 5-3 for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship. It is the Profs’ 14th conference title and they receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The Profs (32-12) were the third seed in the conference tournament while the Roadrunners (28-14-1) were the fifth seed. Rowan defeated Richard Stockton College, 13-0 in the first round and William Paterson University, 15-5 in the second. On Saturday, Rowan advanced to the final with 4-3 victory over the top seed Kean University. Right-hander Steven Melchiorre (sr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton, NJ) was the winning pitcher. He (7-3) went eight innings and gave up three earned runs. Melchiorre struck out 10 batters. Righty Jeff White (sr. Medford, NJ/Sterling) was on the mound in the ninth and earned his third save. Right-hander... Read more →

MAY 4, 2013 PHILADELPHIA – On a beautiful Saturday morning, the La Salle softball squad recognized its senior class prior to the start of its conference doubleheader against the Charlotte 49ers. Accompanied by their parents, seniors Tristan Musho and Liz Reed were honored for their dedication to the team and many accomplishments on and off the field. The Explorers dropped both games to the 49ers, 8-4 and 7-0, to finish the season with an overall record of 16-31 and an Atlantic 10 conference record of 3-19. The first game of the day was a thriller as the two teams combined for five homeruns, the first of which came from freshman Kendra Heyer in the first. After Charlotte posted two quick unearned runs to start off the game, Heyer smacked a frozen rope over the right field wall to bring the Explorers within one. That marks the third homerun of Heyer's... Read more →

Box Score Box Score (PDF) NEWARK, Del. – The Explorer offense was shut down by three Blue Hen pitchers on Friday afternoon, mustering up six hits without a run in a 4-0 defeat. La Salle tallied six hits on the afternoon while the Blue Hens pumped out seven to go along with eight free passes. Senior Ryan Donohue (3-4) took the loss for the Explorers, surrendering four runs (three earned) over five innings. Delaware's Chad Kuhl won his eighth game of the season, tossing seven scoreless innings while striking out four. Delaware plated a run in the first and another in the third to open up a 2-0 lead. The Blue Hens added two more in the fifth, one of the unearned variety, to lead 4-0, which turned out to be the final. The Explorers had their fair share of chances on the afternoon, tallying 10 baserunners via hit or... Read more →

April 27, 2013 Box Score Box Score (PDF) PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle baseball team took an early 3-0 lead and held on to defeat VCU, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. Sophomore Justin Korenblatt went 3-for-4 with two RBI at the plate and senior Pat Christensen tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, earning his tenth save of the season. The Blue and Gold (20-20, 13-4 A-10) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning behind a walk and three hits. Senior Dan Klem (2-4, RBI, 2 runs) led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and advanced to third on a slicing double from Kevin Baron (1-5, run). Sophomore Kevin Conroy (2-4, RBI, run) scored Klem on a single through the right side followed by a Korenblatt single to plate Baron from third. After sophomore Mark Williams (1-3) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play,... Read more →

Hodgson Hits Grand Slam, Records 5 RBIs in Loss to Dayton April 21, 2013 Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box (pdf) Game 2 Box (pdf) PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle softball team lost both games in today's conference doubleheader against the Dayton Fliers, 9-6 and 7-1, respectively. The Explorers scored six runs on just four hits in game one, largely due to a grand slam in the fourth from junior Megan Hodgson, who recorded five RBIs in the game. The inning started with a walk by sophomore Kristin Travers followed by two quick outs. Sophomore Alyssa Bitsimis provided a double to left center which setup another walk, this time from freshman Kendra Heyer. A third walk in the inning from senior Liz Reed gave La Salle its second run of the afternoon but they still trailed 5-2. With the bases loaded, two outs, and the Explorers... Read more →

Satanoff's pitching, Sirolli's bat lift Raptors GALLOWAY, N.J. (April 19, 2013) – Senior righthander Adam Satanoff (Pitman, NJ/Pitman) hurled a three-hitter and senior leftfielder Joe Sirolli (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) singled home the eventual winning run in the fifth inning to lead the Rutgers University-Camden baseball team over Richard Stockton College, 2-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Friday. Rutgers-Camden improves to 18-15 overall and 5-7 in the NJAC with its first victory over the Ospreys since capturing a 7-3 win in Camden on April 10, 2009. The Raptors’ victory snapped a losing streak of seven straight games against Stockton, which included a 7-6 defeat in Camden Thursday. Richard Stockton College falls to 18-14 overall and 6-6 in the NJAC. Friday’s game was a classic pitchers’ duel between Satanoff and Osprey junior southpaw Adam Warburton (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township). Satanoff hurled three-hit ball and allowed just one unearned run in raising... Read more →

Box Score Box Score (PDF) MERION STATION, Pa. – La Salle's bats remained hot on Sunday afternoon, banging out 11 hits while hanging a seven spot in the run column in a 7-4 Atlantic 10 series clinching win over Saint Joseph's at John Smithson Field. Senior Dan Klem paced the Explorer offense with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate while sophomore Kevin Conroy posted a 2-for-5 line while driving in two runs and scoring two more. Sophomore Shane Hollman earned his second victory on the season, twirling 5.1 innings of three run ball. The Blue and Gold improve to 14-19 (8-4 A-10) while the Hawks slip to (17-18, 5-4 A-10). Saint Joseph's got on the board first, tallying a run in the third, which the Explorers got back in the top of the fourth on a Mark Williams (2-4) RBI single. The Hawks added two more in the bottom half... Read more →

LaSalle Tallies Season-High 21 Hits MERION STATION, Pa. – After notching only four hits the day before, the La Salle baseball team tallied a season- high 21 base knocks in a 10-2 victory over Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon at John Smithson Field. Freshman Joey Ravert (4-5, 2 RBI, run) and sophomore Kevin Baron (4-5, RBI, run) paced the Explorer offense with four hits apiece while junior Shawn O'Neill picked up his third win of the season after tossing 6.2 innings of two-run ball. With the win, the Blue and Gold improve to 13-19 (7-4 A-10) on the season while the Hawks slip to 17-17 (5-3 A-10). The Explorers began the scoring frenzy with two in the second when Ravert tripled home sophomore Mark Williams (3-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs) from first followed by an RBI single from sophomore Ryan Welling (3-4, RBI, run) to plate Ravert from third. La... Read more →

In Final USA Today/Coaches Poll Explorers one of three Atlantic 10 teams ranked PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men’s basketball team has finished the 2012-13 season ranked #24 in the final USA Today/Coaches Poll, it was announced today. The Explorers received 97 points and are one of three Atlantic 10 teams in the polls joining Saint Louis and VCU. La Salle won three NCAA Tournament games in five days over Boise State, Kansas State and Ole Miss to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Explorers concluded the season with a 24-10 record. Only six La Salle teams have won more than 24 games (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1989, 1990). During the 2012-13 season, La Salle knocked off three ranked opponents in #9/9 Butler, #19/16 VCU and #12/14 Kansas State. The Blue and Gold also compiled a school record 11 Atlantic 10 wins which tied it for third in the league.... Read more →

Play begins on Wednesday evening PHILADELPHIA – La Salle senior Ramon Galloway (Philadelphia, Pa. / South Carolina) has been selected to play in the 61st annual Portsmouth Invitational, which begins on Wednesday. “We are excited to have Ramon join the other top senior NBA prospects in the country at the Portsmouth Invitational,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said. “We are extremely proud of Ramon and look forward to his future accomplishments following his appearances in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, the College Slam Dunk Contest and the NABC Senior All-Star Game. It is a great opportunity for him to continue to demonstrate his NBA potential.” Galloway averaged a team-best 17.2 points per game and dished a team-high 127 assists in helping lead the Explorers to a 24-10 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. He earned first team All-Atlantic 10 recognition and first team all-district honors from the USBWA.... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Richmond Spiders baseball team lost a hard-fought game to La Salle in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon, 5-3. With the loss, Richmond’s record drops to 16-9 overall and to 2-3 in Atlantic 10 conference play. With the win, La Salle improves to 8-14 on the year and to 4-1 in league action. Freshman Tanner Stanley went 4-for-5 on the day for the Spiders with two doubles and a RBI, while junior Adam Forrer hit a solo home run. Senior Matt Zink also drove in a run for Richmond on the afternoon. After the Explorers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, Richmond responded immediately in the next two frames to tie the game. In the fifth, Zink and Stanley both drove in runs to cut the lead to just one. Then in the sixth, Forrer hit a towering, solo homer... Read more →

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Press release March 22, 2013 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Dr. John Giannini kept calling timeouts as La Salle's big lead kept slipping away, an 18-point halftime advantage wiped out by fourth-seeded Kansas State's frantic comeback. The coach's message every time was simple: Keep playing defense. The Explorers finally answered his challenge. Jerrell Wright made three foul shots in the final 30 seconds, and the No. 13 seed from the Atlantic 10 buckled down on defense in the closing minutes, allowing the Explorers to polish off a 63-61 upset win Friday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. "Every timeout, every time we came in, he was riding us on defense," said Ramon Galloway, who finished with 19 points for La Salle. "We had a good margin, and they came back and actually took the lead. We had to stick together, dig down deep... Read more →

March 8, 2013 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Senior swimmers Daniel Fitzgerald and Blase Szyszko have been named to the Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Academic All-Conference team, announced yesterday by the Atlantic 10 office. Student-athletes were selected based on their performance during the season, at the Atlantic 10 Championships, and in the classroom – in order to make the team, nominees must retain a cumulative GPA of at 3.0 or greater. Fitzgerald, a nursing major, had to contend with the grueling classroom schedule of early-morning clinicals and demanding course material in addition to the 20-hour-a-week swimming regiment. In the end, Fitzgerald had a fantastic end to his collegiate swimming career, picking up three personal best times and three top-seven finishes, including a silver medal in the 100 yard backstroke. Additionally, he broke the school and Atlantic 10 Conference record in the 100 back (48.25) and the school record in the 100... Read more →

ORLANDO, Fla. –( March 3)Freshman Mary Cate Scott led the softball team to a pair of wins in today's games against Sacred Heart and Holy Cross. The Explorers overtook Sacred Heart 2-1 before defeating Holy Cross in the final inning with a score of 4-3. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of the fifth inning against Holy Cross. In the top of the seventh, the Explorers scored a clutch go-ahead run to make the score 4-3. They successfully held off the Crusaders to earn their third win in the last three games. Scott threw a complete game against Sacred Heart and served as a reliever against Holy Cross, picking up two more wins in the process. She has now improved her record to 3-0 as an Explorer. With today's success, the softball squad improves to 3-1 on the season. The Explorers return to the field on Tuesday to... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA - Four student-athletes—Rachel Hartman (Oley, Pa. / Oley Valley), Abbey Lawrence (Edgewater, Md. / South River), Gina Smith (Hammonton, N.J. / St. Joseph’s), Devin Muracco (Washington Twp., N.J. / Washington Twp.) —have signed National Letters of Intent to play field hockey at La Salle University, head coach Michelle Marks announced today. “As a coaching staff, we are very excited about this incoming class and feel they will be a great compliment to our team,” Marks said. “Each one of them possesses a unique quality that we believe will have a tremendous impact on our program. We would like to welcome Rachel, Abbey, Gina, Devin and their families to the La Salle Field Hockey family.” Hartman was an all-state goalkeeper at Oley Valley that helped her team to three Division III championships. A four-year letterwinner, Hartman also earned all-county and all-division honors. Her team posted 15 shutouts and allowed 14... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – Four former athletes will be inducted into the La Salle University Hall of Athletes, the La Salle Alumni Association and Athletic Department announced today. Frank S. Blatcher ’56 (men’s basketball), Kevin J. Coleman ’05 (men’s soccer), Melanie Coots Platchek ’02 (women’s diving) and Jon Walheim ’66 (men’s swimming) will be recognized at halftime of the men’s basketball game on February 9 vs. Fordham. A post-game reception and the induction program will follow in the Ballroom of the Student Union on campus at approximately 4:30 PM. Frank S. Blatcher ’56 (Philadelphia, Pa. / South Philadelphia) was a key player on La Salle’s 1954 NCAA Championship and 1955 NCAA runner-up basketball teams. Blatcher netted a game-high 23 points in the Explorers 92-76 triumph over Bradley in title game in 1954. He averaged a career-high 10.4 points during his sophomore campaign and registered three seasons of over nine points per game.... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – Wendy Hutchinson has been named Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's Cross Country Performer of the Year, it was announced today in voting conducted by the sports information offices of the 28 institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Hutchinson graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and international studies, posting a 3.80 GPA as an undergraduate. She has since begun pursuing an MBA in management/finance, carrying a 4.0 GPA through her tenure as a graduate student. The Dover, Pa. native crossed the finish line 15th (21:07, 6k) at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on November 9, taking home all-region honors. A week later, she placed fifth (18:07.8, 5k) at the ECAC Championships to cap off her career. Hutchinson finished 12th (18:18.6, 5k) at the Atlantic 10 Championships on October 27, earning all-conference recognition for the second consecutive season. The A-10 recognized Hutchinson as an Academic All-Conference choice on November 7,... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University Head Lacrosse Coach Candace Taglianetti Bossell has announced that seniors Lauren McDermott (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Melanie Sarcinello (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) and Ryan Yankowich (Norristown, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) will serve as team captains for the 2013 season. "I'm excited to announce this year’s captains," Taglianetti Bossell said. "They each possess different qualities and leadership styles, but they all share a common goal and will to win. Sarcinello, a senior midfielder is no stranger to a leadership role after serving as a captain in the 2010 season as a sophomore. In 2012, she was the team statistical leader in points (39) and draw controls (38). The Newtown Square, Pa., native also earned Second Team All-Conference in the Atlantic 10, All-Philly DI Tirst Team and a scholastic achievement of Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference. McDermott, a senior attacker has been the heart and soul of the Explorer squad and... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle head baseball coach Mike Lake has announced the signing of three standout players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period for the 2013-14 academic year. Nick Tierno Voorhees, N.J. (Eastern) IF/C – 5-9, 170 – L/R Three-year varsity baseball letter winner at Eastern with the ability to play all over the diamond…three-time first team all-conference selection, twice as a second baseman, once as a catcher…twice named first team all-Group IV…two-time Carpenter Cup Showcase honoree…recognized as a second team all-South Jersey standout after junior season…posted a career .441 batting average while successfully stealing 52/53 bases through three years…competed on several prep travel prep squads including Gibbsboro Legion, South Jersey Young Guns, and Tri-State Arsenal…selected to Tri-State Arsenal’s Team Northeast to compete in Jupiter, Fla. Head coach Mike Lake: "Nick is versatile athlete that can play a number of different positions and excel at a... Read more →

December 7, 2012 PHILADELPHIA - La Salle Women's Basketball Head Coach Jeff Williams has announced the signing of four to the Class of 2017. Included in this signing class are three Philadelphia-area student-athletes and one hailing from New York City. The Explorers will welcome Deja Bullock (Magnolia, N.J./Triton), Micahya Owens (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro), Lisa Mintzer (Havertown, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and Jasmine Alston (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin). Bullock, a 6-0 power forward, averaged 11.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 2.4 steals and 1.2 assists per game at Triton Regional last season. The three-star signee is on track to become a member of the 1,000 points/1,000 rebounds club, starting the season next Friday at 850 career points and 996 career rebounds. Owens, referred to as "New Jersey's best kept secret" on streetball.com, is a prolific scorer. The 5-11 power forward reached the 1,000 point mark in just two seasons, and is on track to hit... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle Lacrosse Head Coach Candace Taglianetti Bossell has announced the signing of 14 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the initial signing period. The Class of 2017 includes seven players from the central and eastern Pennsylvania region as well as six from Maryland and one from New Jersey. Pennsylvania signees include: Nicole Black (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard-Dale) Chelsea DiIonno (Lincoln Univ., Pa./Avon Grove Charter) Allee Ilgenfritz (York, Pa./West York) Maddie Long (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) Kiara Lynch (Richboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) Toni Massetti (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) Danielle Strang (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) Maryland signees include: Gabriella Antonelli (Centreville, Md./Queen Anne’s County) Abbey Meehan (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) Mary Vaughters (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary’s) Alex Watson (Davidsonville, Md./South River) Mackenzie White (Centreville, Md./Queen Anne’s County) Courtney Woolford (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) New Jersey signees include: Anna Gordon (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle head softball coach Ron Shoemaker announced the signing of six athletes to join the 2014 roster, all of whom are Pennsylvania natives. “This is my first recruiting class and I could not be more pleased,” Shoemaker said . “This group will add power, speed, solid defense and pitching to our program. The future of La Salle softball is bright and has been made even brighter with the signing of these six student-athletes, both on the field as well as in the classroom.” Christina Bascara (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) is a 5'7” third baseman and offensive powerhouse. Bascara was a major contributor to Pennsbury's success both her sophomore and junior years. As a junior, Bascara was selected All-Area Player of the Year and was First Team Third Baseman after batting .568. She is also a member of the National Honor Society. Coach Shoemaker: “Christina is coming off an incredible... Read more →

November 26, Vote for Niemiec! PHILADELPHIA - Courtney Niemiec has been named one of 36 finalists for Soccer News Net's Women's College Player of the Year. The online fan vote will account for 40% of the total toward the selection, with the remaining 60% going to the website's editorial staff. Niemiec was one of only two players from the Atlantic 10 to be nominated and is the only representative from a school in Philadelphia. Niemiec was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year as well as a first-team all-conference selection for her standout play in the backfield this season, anchoring an Explorer defense that earned 10 shutouts this season. The junior played an integral role in La Salle's 17-5-1 showing this year, including an unbeaten 8-0-1 mark in the A-10 during the regular season and a 3-0 record during conference playoffs. Read more →

Explorer hit game-tying and game-winning shots in OT win vs. Villanova PHILADELPHIA – La Salle junior guard Tyreek Duren (Philadelphia, Pa. / Neumann-Goretti) has been named the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week, it was announced today. Duren averaged 19.0 ppg. in a pair of Explorer wins last week, including a 77-74 overtime victory over Villanova. Against the Wildcats, Duren scored 19 of his 23 points after halftime. His three-pointer with seven seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 67-67. In overtime, his lay-up with 18 seconds left gave La Salle its first lead since late in the first half. His 23 points against Nova were one short of a career-high set last year against the Wildcats. Duren also led the team in scoring with 15 points in a 64-51 win at Hartford on Tuesday. He leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg. and assists with 3.0... Read more →

November 4, 2012 \ Box Score KINGSTON, RI - La Salle women's soccer wins its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship title en route to head coach Paul Royal's 100th win with a 2-1 overtime win against VCU. Junior Renee Washington scored both goals for the Explorers (17-4-1), who advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The pairings will be announced on Monday at 4:30 PM on NCAA.com. A watch party that begins at 4:15 PM at the Rodden Theatre is open to the public. Free food and drinks will be available as well as an opportunity to congratulate the team. La Salle has won the A-10 regular season championship the past two seasons and has a combined 32-6-4 record in the past two seasons. “I think this is huge,” said Royal. “This is a great victory for the La Salle community. Our girls have worked so hard, setting... Read more →

Surrounded by his loving family, on November 13, 2012. Age 80. Of West Deptford. Formerly of Gloucester City. Loving husband of 52 years to Joan B. (nee Tuttle). Loving father of Stephen Williams (Rosemarie), Barbara Patragnoni (David), Kimberly McGuane (Patrick), Leslie Brown (David) and Beth Graham (John). Cherished grandfather of Emilie, David, Adam, Hannah, Emma, Benjamin, Abigail, David, Jack, Ava and Luke. Also survived by his sisters Patricia, Mary and Irene and his brother, Edward. Stephen graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School class of 1950. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army. Stephen received his Bachelor’s Degree from LaSalle University. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Sunday evening from 7 to 9 PM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. On Monday, all are invited to his Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated at 11 AM at Saint... Read more →

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Meghan McGlinchey continued her stellar fall on Friday, placing second (215 runners) at the Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Championships with a time of 20:23 (6K). As a team, the Explorer women finished sixth in the 31-team field, and sported three top-20 finishes on the day. McGlinchey’s runner-up finish was good enough for the senior to earn a bid to the NCAA Champions in Louisville, Ky. on November 17. The nod marks the first time since 2007 that a La Salle woman will compete in the national meet in cross country (Rachel Papin '05-'07). McGlinchey ran a 23:03 at the Mid-Atlantic Championships a season ago, improving her time by 2:40 in this year's meet. Wendy Hutchinson paced the rest of the Explorers, clocking a 21:07, good for a 15th place finish. Stephanie Bearish was not far behind, crossing the finish line 19th with a time of 21:13. Michelle... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA – Wendy Hutchinson (Dover, Pa./Dover) has been named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team, the conference office announced today. The fifth-year senior placed 12th at the 2012 A-10 cross country championships, finishing the 5K race in 18:18.6 (5K). Hutchinson was the third Explorer to cross the finish line, aiding La Salle’s second-place finish at the event. With her top-15 finish, Hutchinson was named an all-conference selection. The Dover, Pa. native graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and international studies, carrying a 3.80 GPA as an undergraduate. Hutchinson is currently pursuing an MBA in management/finance and has posted a 4.0 GPA throughout her tenure as a graduate student. Hutchinson was a 2011 academic all-conference honoree in addition to being named an All-A10 performer after finishing 12that the 2011 conference championships. She was a key member of La Salle’s first place championship finish a year ago. Read more →

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL: PHILADELPHIA - To honor the men and women that served our country, La Salle is offering free admission to all veterans (with proper identification) for the Explorers contest vs. Delaware on Saturday. The game is set to begin at 3 p.m. and will include veteran recognition during a media timeout with a color guard presentation. Homecoming festivities will occur at halftime. The Explorers are coming off a 61-58 exhibition win over Carleton on Friday night. A complete preview with links and game notes will be posted to GoExplorers.com later this week. For ticket information, call 215-951-1999 or email tickets@lasalle.edu. Read more →

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle women's soccer team gathered in the Rodden Theatre late Monday afternoon to watch the NCAA women's soccer selection show, awaiting its first-round tournament draw. The squad rejoiced along with fellow student-athletes, coaches, professors, parents and other supporters who roared upon the announcement. La Salle will travel to Charlottesville to take on the Virginia Cavaliers on Friday at 6 p.m. in its second consecutive year drawing an ACC opponent in the first round. The Cavaliers posted a 16-4-1 record this season and defeated Maryland 4-0 in the conference championship on Sunday afternoon. Athletic director Dr. Tom Brennan and head coach Paul Royal addressed the onlookers and offered stirring words of encouragement to the team, which proudly embodies the mission of the La Salle community. "I am so proud," Brennan said, speaking directly to the team. "You've had a great ride, but it's not nearly over." "It... Read more →

PITTSBURGH - Jason Plumhoff (Ellicott City, Md./River Hill) netted the game-winning goal in the 34th minute and La Salle added two more in the second half, topping Duquesne 3-0 in the regular season finale on Sunday. With the win and a Butler loss at Saint Louis today, the Explorers (10-6-3, 4-4-1 Atlantic 10) finished in a tie for seventh place with the Dukes (7-11-1, 4-4-1 Atlantic 10) and clinched their third straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berth. The tournament starts on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., and the newly expanded tournament takes the top eight finishers. By virtue of their win over the Dukes, the Explorers claimed the No. 7 seed and will kick off the tournament at 11 a.m. on Thursday when they take on the second-seeded Billikens at Transamerica Field. Plumhoff took a pass from Kameron Teel (Glassboro, N.J./Immaculata) and beat two defenders to put in the winning tally near... Read more →

KINGSTON, RI - La Salle women’s soccer wins its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship title en route to head coach Paul Royal’s 100th win with a 2-1 overtime win against VCU. Junior Renee Washington (Ewing, NJ / Pennington Prep) scored both goals for the Explorers (17-4-1), who advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The pairings will be announced on Monday at 4:30 PM on NCAA.com. A watch party that begins at 4:15 PM in Gola Arena is open to the public. Free food and drinks will be available as well as an opportunity to congratulate the team. La Salle has won the A-10 regular season championship the past two seasons and has a combined 32-6-4 record in the past two seasons. Jourdan McVicker (Metuchen, N.J. / Metuchen) was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Washington and Ashley Chilcoat (New... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA - Head coach Paul Royal was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season while junior captain Courtney Niemiec (Philadelphia, Pa./Little Flower) captured the conference's defensive player of the year honor. In addition, five Explorers were represented on the A-10 Women's Soccer All-Conference team and three on the All-Academic team. The A-10 Conference office announced the awards today, in its voting conducted by the league's head coaches. Royal was named the conference's coach of the year for the second season in a row after remaining unbeaten in the A-10 regular season for two consecutive years. La Salle has not lost a regular season A-10 match since October 29, 2010, marking the fifth-longest regular season conference unbeaten streak in the country. In his 10th season at the helm, Royal has accumulated a 97-85-17 record, reaching the post season five times. Niemiec, a junior defender from Philadelphia,... Read more →

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2012 PHILADELPHIA - La Salle has claimed the top seed in the 2012 Atlantic 10 Women’s Soccer Championship, which will be played at Rhode Island’s URI Soccer Complex Thurs., Nov. 1-Sun., Nov. 4. It is the second straight year the Explorers won the A-10 regular season title, claiming the top spot in the championship, and only the second time in program history. La Salle will face eighth-seeded Charlotte at 11:00 am on Thursday. The Explorers, ranked No. 1 regionally and receiving votes nationally, finished the regular season at 8-0-1 in conference play with 25 points and a 14-4-1 record overall. La Salle, who finishes their second consecutive undefeated season in the A-10, has not lost a regular season A-10 matchup since October 29, 2010, an impressive streak spanning across 18 matches. The 49ers finished in a three-way tie for seventh with Massachusetts and Richmond at... Read more →

Alex Critzos Scores Fifth Goal of Season; Andrew D’Ottavi Makes Season-High 12 Saves Oct. 26, 2012 PHILADELPHIA - After 110 minutes of fierce play, the Saint Joseph's men's soccer team earned another point in Atlantic 10 standings as the Hawks played to a double-overtime draw, 1-1, against La Salle at McCarthy Stadium on Friday evening. With the tie, Saint Joseph's stands at 5-10-1 overall and 1-5-1 in the A-10. La Salle (8-5-3, 2-3-1 A-10) held a slight advantage over Saint Joseph's in shots in the opening 25 minutes of the match as the Explorers fired off six shots, two on goal, in contrast to the Hawks' four shots, all wide. SJU would overcome the disadvantage and find a way to strike first as sophomore forward Alex Critzos (Annapolis, Md./Archbishop Spalding) found an offensive opportunity in an empty Explorer net and chipped a shot into the left side, putting the Hawks... Read more →