Men’s soccer loses two A-10 games

By Andrew Neumann
Collegian Staff
November 7, 2007

Call it the story of the 2007 Explorer football team. Every week brings a new opponent, but the same result. This week, it was the Staten Island-based Wagner Seahawks. A week after losing to Assumption College, the Explorers headed to the first of two straight road games looking for their first win.

Wagner looked to be a tough matchup for the Explorers, as the Seahawks feature star running back Jason Butler. Butler ended the day with 269 yards, and Wagner took a 28-0 decision over the Explorers.

The tone was set on Wagner’s first play from scrimmage. After receiving a La Salle punt, the Seahawks took possession at their own 25. Butler took the handoff on first down and took it 75 yards into the end zone to give Wagner an early 7-0 lead.

Butler would go on to score two more touchdowns from 10 yards out in the second quarter, and one from 29 yards out in the fourth. The other Wagner touchdown was the result of a seven-yard pass from Matt Abbey to Keith Heaney in the third.

Punt. Punt. Punt. Punt. Downs. End of Half. Punt. Interception. Fumble. Downs. End of Game.

That’s the official scorebook entry for all of La Salle’s drives in the game. The Explorers turned in what may be their worst offensive performance of the season against Wagner. They gained only 155 yards of total offense, compared to Wagner’s 409.

They averaged only 2.2 yards per carry, compared to the Seahawks’ 6.9. In the second half, they possessed the ball for less than nine minutes total. In other words, they were dominated on the offensive side of the football.

Defensively, it was not much better. In addition to Butler’s 269 yards, two other backs contributed for significant yards, upping Wagner’s final rushing total to 357. Seahawk quarterback Matt Abbey was only 5-of-10 for 52 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but Wagner was so successful running the ball that it did not need to throw. The Explorer defense has kept La Salle close in a lot of games lately, but that was not the case in this one.

With two games left to play, the Explorers sit at 0-8. They play their last road contest, which is also the last MAAC game ever, this Saturday against Duquesne. Duquesne’s reign as MAAC Champions appears to be drawing to a close, as the Dukes were beaten by Iona last week.

Still, they are a team that the Explorers have had trouble competing against. The Dukes are 5-3 on the year. After that, the Explorers wrap up their season with St. Francis (Pa.) at home on Nov. 17.

neumanna1@lasalle.edu