June 29, 2009

Atlantic 10's Release in PDF Format

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University's Traci DePasquale - a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference Women's Soccer Second Team selection - has been named preseason A-10 All-Conference, as selected by the league's head coaches and announced Monday.

A pair of incoming freshmen to the Explorers' program - defender Zovel Hyre and goalkeeper Gabrielle Pakhtigian - have also been honored by the conference as each has been selected to the preseason's All-Rookie Team.

DePasquale, a midfielder for the Explorers, played in all 20 games in 2008 and led the team with 10 assists, tied for the second-most ever in a single season at the school and tied for 26th in the nation in per game average (0.50).

She was also tied with Dana O'Brien for the team lead with 20 points, while finishing fourth in goals (5), shots (36), and shots on goal (17). DePasquale finished the year ranking sixth all-time at La Salle in career goals (20) and career points (58), and fifth all-time in career assists (18).

A year after having a pair of Explorers named to the postseason All-Rookie Team - forward O'Brien and defender Jess Hopton - La Salle sees two of its newcomers earn a spot on the 2009 preseason All-Rookie Team, both of whom have international team experience.

Hyre, a defender from Canada, has actually played two years for the Jamaican National team - one as the Under-17 team captain and the other on the Under-20 squad, and each of those qualified and competed in the CONCACAF competitions. Her athleticism is apparent in her other high school activity - the track team - where she raced in the 100m, and 200m dashes and also competed in the long jump.

Pakhtigian, a goalkeeper from North Wales, PA, has been named a Region 1 Team Goalkeeper twice (2006 and 2008), was the 2007 Adidas ESP All-Star goalkeeper and is currently on the Region 1 Team Russian International Tournament roster for 2009. Her extensive experience also includes five years on the EPYSA ODP State team, three years in the Region 1 ODP Player Pool, and a two-year attendee of the Soccer Plus Advanced National Training Center.

La Salle, which fell just short of its third A-10 Championship berth in five years (tied for sixth, but lost out due to a tiebreaker) in 2008, opens up the 2009 season with a pair of road dates - at Drexel, Tuesday, August 25 and at Sacred Heart, Friday the 28th - before its home opener, Sunday, August 30 at 1 PM versus UMBC.