(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
Cristina Rodriguez scored for a fourth consecutive game, but a late La Salle goal gave the visiting Explorers a 2-1 victory over Saint Louis in Atlantic 10 Conference women’s soccer action Sunday at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
Saint Louis slipped to 7-8 overall and 2-3 in the A-10, while La Salle improved to 9-4-2, 5-0.
Rodriguez gave the Billikens a 1-0 lead at the 21:25 mark with her sixth goal of the season, a penalty kick awarded when La Salle was whistled for a hand ball in the box on a shot by Kirsten Clemens. Rodriguez now is tied for the team lead in goals and points (16).
Goalkeeper Hanna Benben provided a spark later in the first half, making one of her six saves by turning away a La Salle penalty kick in the 34th minute. But the Explorers tallied the equalizer moments later on the corner kick that followed, with Kerri Aiken heading in her second goal of the year with an assist from Anna Dolhansky.
The Billikens applied consistent pressure in the second half, out-shooting La Salle 11-5. However, the Explorers cashed in on another corner kick at 85:56 as Kelsey Haycook (Maryam Huseini assist) connected on a header for her 13th goal of the season.
The Billikens play just one game next weekend, taking on A-10 newcomer Davidson Saturday, Oct. 25, in Davidson, N.C. First whistle is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT).
