View 2013 Schedule

PHILADELPHIA – Paul Royal has unveiled the much anticipated 2013 women's soccer schedule. The slate features three contests against teams that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, most notably a September 1 matchup with reigning National Runner-up Penn State.

“With our recent national success, we have now been able to attract some of the nation's most prestigious programs,” head coach Paul Royal said. “By adding top non-conference programs such as Penn State, Princeton, UConn, and Villanova, as well as some very dangerous CAA and Patriot League teams, we realize we'll have to consistently perform at our very best to garner similar success as our past two years.”

New opponents will be met by new faces as Royal announced an incoming class of five standout student-athletes including one goal keeper, one defender, two utility players and a forward.

“It is without question that our recruiting coordinator, Ally Kenney, has done an outstanding job securing one of the most talented recruiting classes in the history of our program,” Royal said. “They will add considerable depth to our already formidable lineup.”

The incoming freshmen hail from New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey and arrive with plenty of accolades and trophies to display on dormitory shelves this fall.

“Over the next four years, we will be driving this class to execute on their potential both on the field and in the classroom,” Royal remarked. “If they continue to follow the preceding classes, this group of talented student-athletes could help us achieve many of our goals including more Atlantic 10 championships, our first NCAA tournament win, and continued academic excellence in the future.”

The Explorers kick off their regular season at the James Madison Invitational Tournament, with their season opener set for August 23 vs. Old Dominion. The Blue and Gold will square off against the host two days later.

The following weekend, Penn State will welcome La Salle to University Park on September 1. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten title a season ago and fell to North Carolina in the College Cup Final. 

The Explorers will begin their home schedule on September 6 when they play host to American, followed by a September 8 contest vs. Marshall at McCarthy Stadium. Villanova and Loyola (Md.) are on the docket the following weekend. The Explorers and Wildcats will play their game at a neutral location on September 12. The Greyhounds will visit campus for a September 15 matchup.

The Blue and Gold will hike to Stoors, Conn. for a September 19 showdown against UConn, which posted a 5-4-1 record in the Big East a season ago. On October 1, La Salle will travel to Princeton, looking to avenge an overtime loss to defending Ivy League champion Princeton. Game against Lehigh (9/23) and Drexel (9/26) are sprinkled in before La Salle begins its Atlantic 10 schedule on October 11.

La Salle will host Fordham in the A-10 opener (10/4) before heading south for affairs at George Washington (10/11) and VCU (10/13). The Blue and Gold will return home for a October 18 game against A-10 and Big 5 rival Saint Joseph's.

Away games at St. Bonaventure (10/25) and Duquesne (10/27) precede La Salle's final weekend when it hosts Dayton (11/1) and A-10 newcomer George Mason (11/3) to conclude the regular season.

The Explorers have posted a 15-0-3 record during the A-10 regular season the last two seasons, highlighted by an NCAA Tournament berth each year. Last season, the Blue and Gold claimed the outright conference title after notching an unblemished regular season and winning the A-10 Tournament.

“Along with having our most competitive non-conference schedule in our history, we now realize we have a target on our backs against the increased talent from all our Atlantic 10 opponents,” Royal said. “Most notably, we are hoping for another 'Pack the Mac' atmosphere at McCarthy Stadium on November 1^st vs. one of the nations' top programs in Dayton.”

Below is a detailed list of La Salle's 2012 incoming freshman class.

Marykate Bateman, MF/F                       
Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham Senior HS
TS United / FC Bucks Prowlers ECNL
 
Bateman owns the career record in goals scored at Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School netting 54 en route to two team MVP nods and three First Team All-Conference recognitions. 
 
The Horsham, Pa. native spent four years playing on the Eastern Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program (ODP) State Team and reached the state finals in 2012 with TS United. Off the field, Bateman is a four-year Honor Society member and volunteers at Abington Memorial Hospital.
 
Coach Royal: “Thanks to former coaches Dan Mannella and Eddie Leigh, we're very excited to have found Marykate so late in the recruiting cycle.  With her sophistication of off-ball runs and ability to score goals, we believe Marykate will be able to immediately impact our front line.  Her work ethic, passion and integrity will be a model for future Explorers.  We're very confident that Marykate will have the potential to score 5-10 goals in each of her four years at La Salle.”
 
Deja Davis, D/MF/F                       
Montclair, N.J./Montclair HS
Match Fit Chelsea – Charge
 
Davis was a senior captain on a Montclair High School squad that was ranked No. 5 in the state by the Star-Ledger and secured the SEC Division Championship.  In her senior year, the utility player recorded 19 goals and 5 assists earning First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State nods in addition to her squad's Best Offensive Player award.
 
Along with soccer, Davis was a senior captain and three-year softball starter and played varsity basketball her sophomore and junior years.
 
Coach Royal: “We're very pleased to have someone of Deja's versatility join our family here at La Salle. She will have the ability to play in any of our backline positions or in one of our midfielder/forward roles. With Deja's composure and ability to attack defenses she'll immediately impact our program and help us get to the next level. Her presence and adaptability will give us several options within our various systems of play.”
 
Danielle Marx, D/MF           
Dix Hills, N.J./Half Hollow Hills HS East
Albertson Elite Fury 94'            
 
Marx joins the Explorers from a decorated club team that was crowned the New York State Champions in 2007, 2009 and 2011 and the Region One Champions in 2009. Additionally, the midfielder's Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) squad reached the Regional finals in 2011 and semifinals in 2012, participating in an international trip to Spain last year.
 
In addition to being named All-County, All-Conference and All-League in soccer, Marx was a Half Hollow Hills Varsity Track Captain, Varsity Lacrosse participant and New York State Scholar Athlete. 
 
Coach Royal: “We are excited about the opportunity to coach an amazing talent like Dannie. Her ability and vision on the ball will immediately help us in possession. She's an interior midfielder that has the confidence and endurance to contribute to our attack. Dannie also has the innate ability to field as many as six positions in this upcoming season.”
 
 
Paige McDowell, D/MF/F
Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South
FC Bucks Prowlers ECNL
 
Despite experiencing a season ending injury in the 2012, McDowell earned First Team All-League and First Team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania as a senior captain. A two-year captain for Council Rock South, McDowell boasts 55 goals and 28 assists during her tenure.
 
As a decorated captain in indoor and outdoor track, the Churchville, Pa. native twice earned First Team All-State honors in the 100 and 300 meter hurdle events, medaling three times at State Championships.
 
Coach Royal: “Paige will be entering preseason camp having just been cleared to play after a season-ending injury last fall, but we are very confident that she'll come in and compete for a starting spot from day one. We are looking for Paige to bring her spirited energy and mental toughness that has made our program so special these last few years. Paige's amazing work ethic and outstanding athleticism will make her one of the most dangerous players in the Atlantic 10 for many years to come.”
 
Larisa Zambelli, GK                       
Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park HS
Albertson Fury Elite, Fury 93'
 
Zambelli was part of the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Region One ODP squads that secured the Eastern New York State Cup Championship in 2007, 2009 and 2011, the Region One Championship in 2009, and advanced to the Region One Tournament Finals in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
 
A senior captain, Zambelli earned All-County soccer honors twice and was a three-year member of Deer Park's Varsity Lacrosse.  The Principal's Honor Roll member was Vice President of the Class of 2013 and organized several ongoing community service initiatives during her three-year term.  
 
Coach Royal: “Coming through Paul Riley and Mike DeMakis' Albertson Fury programs, Larisa will immediately have the high-level game experience to compete for some valuable playing time. After observing Larisa's play, Coach Sanger believes she has all the tools to continue our long line of top flight La Salle goalkeepers. We're really excited to have landed not only an outstanding goalkeeper, but a selfless player that fits our 'team first' culture.”
 
2013 Incoming Freshman Class