PHILADELPHIA, PA. - The Monmouth University women's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision in its season opener to La Salle on Sunday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium.

La Salle opened the scoring in the ninth minute to take a 1-0 lead. Traci DePasquale took a free kick from the left side of the net about 35 yards out. Her kick sailed in front of the goal, where Kim Lisun poked it past the goalie for her first score this year.

Monmouth (0-1) tied the game at the 32:02 mark when 2006 Northeast Conference Player and Rookie of the Year, Andrea Lopez settled a misplayed ball inside the box and put it in the back of the net for her first of 2007.
 
Just before the half, La Salle was able to break the tie with the eventual game-winner. Becky McGuigan played a ball into the midfield to Kristin Hextall, who quickly passed the ball forward to Conley. She dribbled in from the left and beat Monmouth goalie freshman Lia Fierro to the far side for her first collegiate goal.

Twenty minutes after the half, Hextall added the first of two insurance goals for the Explorers, taking a pass from Simone Canfarotta, beating two defenders, and shooting to the right lower 90 for her second goal of the year.

With less than two minutes to play, Dana Giordano added another goal ? her third of the young season ? when she took a corner kick with 1:08 left on the clock. The bender was deflected by the goalie into the net giving the Explorers the 4-1 victory.

Getting the win in the net for the Explorers was Lauren Malizia, who faced 10 shots, and made four saves, while Fierro made five saves in the losing effort.

Monmouth returns to action on Friday, when the Hawks travel to St. Peter's for a 3 p.m. match in Jersey City.