Women's Soccer | August 21, 2015

PHILADELPHIA – Despite an Atlantic 10 regular season title and a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance last fall, the 2015 La Salle women's soccer team is still looking to take its success a step further.
 
"Since we got knocked off in the last round of the A-10 Tournament, the goal is always going to be to win an A-10 Championship," said senior defender Emily Fenton.  "And we're really trying to get it to the next level by winning NCAA Tournament games."
 
The Explorers finished a perfect 8-0 in the A-10 for their third regular season title in four years before falling to Dayton 2-1 in the A-10 final. La Salle received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, but lost to Rutgers in the opening round.
 
"We want to finish what we started last year, we have some unfinished business," said junior forward Marykate Bateman. "We're going for the A-10 Championship, and hopefully some NCAA wins too."
 
Five returners started at least 10 games last season for head coach Paul Royal, including Fenton, Paige McDowell, Kari Nickels, Chrissy Vollrath and Hunter Filippo on the defensive side. McDowell was named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team after earning All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie nods as a freshman in 2014.
 
"The biggest thing is going to be our defense," said Royal. "I really think this team has the opportunity and the potential to be one of the best defensive teams ever here at La Salle, and that's saying a lot."
 
The Explorers also return experience in the attacking third, including senior Jessika Kagan and 2015 All-Rookie selection Kristin Haugstad. Kagan was fifth in the A-10 with eight assists and also had six goals while Haugstad finished with five goals and five assists.
 
La Salle lost five starters to graduation as part of La Salle's winningest class in program history (61 wins), including all-time leading scorer Kelsey Haycook. The Blue and Gold will look to a strong incoming class to help fill the void, and veteran leadership to guide them in the right direction.
 
 "The freshmen seem really integrated with the program and the values," added Fenton. "I think we have a great core of people and leaders on the team, who really know the right ways to get things done."
 
The road to soccer in November begins with Boston University on Monday night at McCarthy Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
 
"The next game is always the most important one, so right now it's all about BU," said senior goalkeeper Katie Getzinger. "But our ultimate goal is to win NCAA games."