Oct. 13, 2002

KINGSTON, R.I. - The University of Rhode Island women's soccer upped its winning streak to four games with an impressive 5-1 victory against La Salle in an Atlantic 10 contest at the URI Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon. The win improved the Rams record to a perfect 5-0 in conference play, the best start to a league schedule in school history.

Rhode Island got on the board first when sophomore Kelly McTurk picked up a loose ball in the box and fed it to senior Gina Rosen who slid the ball past the La Salle keeper to give the Rams a 1-0 lead at the 22:52 mark. The Rams increased their lead to 2-0 at the 28:06 mark when sophomore Claire Landon's shot after a pass from freshman Melanie Kasparek deflected off an Explorers defender. La Salle responded, however, when senior Amy Schneider headed in a direct kick from sophomore Shannon Plunkett to cut the URI lead to 2-1 at the 43:00 mark.

URI opened the scoring in the second half when freshman Megan Kasparek scored her first collegiate goal on an assist from her twin sister, Melanie Kasparek, at the 53:26 mark. Senior co-captain Heather Kasparek gave the Rams an insurance goal at the 66:39 mark when she put in a direct kick from 25-yards out, putting the score at 4-1. URI junior Erica Young capped off the scoring for the afternoon when she blasted a shot from the top of the box on an assist from Megan Kasparek at the 75:54 mark.

Senior goal keeper Jamie Epperlein made five stops in net for Rhode Island while freshman Marisa Suarez made five saves in the setback for the Explorers.

With the win, Rhode Island improves to 9-3-1, 5-0-0 in the Atlantic 10 while La Salle falls to 6-5-1, 3-2 in conference play. Rhode Island will return to action on Friday, October 18th when it travels to St. Bonaventure for a matchup with the Bonnies at 3:00 p.m.

Game Summary
LU (6-5-1, 3-2)	  1  0  --  1
URI (9-3-1, 5-0)  2  3  --  5

URI	22:52	Gina Rosen (Kelly McTurk)
URI	28:06	Claire Landon (Melanie Kasparek)
LU	43:00	Amy Schneider (Shannon Plunkett)
URI	53:26	Megan Kasparek (Melanie Kasparek)
URI	66:39	Heather Kasparek (Unassisted)
URI	75:54	Erica Young (Megan Kasparek)

Shots:	LU - 9; URI - 15
Saves: 	LU - Marisa Suarez, 5; URI - Jamie Epperlein, 5