PHILADELPHIA – A pair of late goals from the hosts forced the Saint Joseph's men's soccer team to settle for a 2-2 draw against La Salle on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic 10 play.
 
Saint Joseph's moves to 2-3-2 (0-1-1 Atlantic 10) on the season, while La Salle sits at 1-2-5 (0-0-1 Atlantic 10).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Diego Avelar was the first to put a goalkeeper to the test, rising to win a header off a long throw-in that forced La Salle goalkeeper Valentin Kneis into an early save.
• La Salle responded with a flurry of attempts, but the Hawk defense held firm, blocking multiple efforts to keep the match level.
• La Salle nearly broke through in the 30^th minute after a run down the left produced a dangerous cross into traffic. A quick strike was directed on target but Kobe Perlaza was able to produce a clearance off the line to keep the game scoreless.
• The hosts weathered a two-minute span early in the second that included four shots from the Hawks, blocking three of them as St. Joe's continued to probe.
• The breakthrough came in the 53^rd minute off a long throw from Sebastian Perez-Gasiba. His service glanced off the head of Glen Lala, who flicked the shot into the underside of the bar before it trickled into the back of the net to take a 1-0 advantage.
• The Hawks doubled the margin in the 71^st minute after Avelar unlocked the defense with a long ball over the top. Tommaso Rossetto's first touch set up a tidy finish that left the goalkeeper flat-footed as the Hawks took a 2-0 lead.
• La Salle pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 76^th minute before finding an equalizer six minutes later to notch the game at two goals apiece.
• A potential winner from Lala was saved in the 85^th minute as the teams ended up settling for a 2-2 draw.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• St. Joe's held a 15-9 advantage in shots while recording a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Explorers had seven corner kicks compared to one from the Hawks.
• Diego Avelar, Sebastian Perez-Gasiba and Mason Csapo were credited with an assist, the first of Avelar and Csapo's careers.
• Tommaso Rossetto and Glen Lala each scored their second goal of the season in the draw.
• Jake Ross earned his first career appearance on the evening.
• Cooper Jennings registered one save in net.
• Seven yellow cards were brandished by the referee, five being issued to the Hawks.
• All five of La Salle's draws this season have come from a losing position.

 
UP NEXT

• The Hawks return to Sweeney field after a three-game road stand, hosting Loyola (Md.) on Tuesday, September 23. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m.