Nov. 1, 2002

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - - The St. Bonaventure men's soccer team held on to defeat LaSalle, 3-1 on Friday at McGraw-Jennings Field.

Junior forward Geron DuPorte (Scarborough, Ontario/R.H. King Academy) gave the Bonnies an early 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. DuPorte took a pass from senior midfielder Bob Hammer (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and booted the ball past La Salle goalie Stash Graham for the score.

With a whirlwind of snow flurries, freshman midfielder Andy Garcia (Mississauga, Ontario/Fr. Michael Goetz) scored the Bonnies second goal in the 33rd minute from passes by freshmen Ryan Ercoli (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas) and Ryan Mahoney (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman). St. Bonaventure led at the half, 2-0.

Nine minutes into the second half, La Salle's Tom Kenney beat St. Bonaventure goalie Tim Landry (Rochester, N.Y./Northstar Academy) to cut the Bona lead to 2-1.

In the 80th minute, junior defender Nick Blair (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) iced the game as he headed in a corner kick from senior midfielder John Phoumanny (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy).

"It was a scrappy contest," said St. Bonaventure head coach Bill Brady. "The snow helped a bit. I credit the guys. They played sound defense once La Salle got within a goal."

The Bonnies improve to 7-8 overall and 2-7 in the Atlantic 10 conference. The Explorers drop to 7-9-1 overall and 5-4 in the A-10.

St. Bonaventure will face Fordham on Sunday, Nov. 3. Kickoff for the final home game of the season is scheduled for 1 p.m.