PHILADELPHIA - La Salle (4-2-9, 2-1-5), playing for its post-season life, scored in the 81st minute and turned away a Duquesne penalty kick attempt just under three minutes later to defeat the Dukes (10-3-4, 4-1-3) on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.

The Dukes, who were competing for the first undefeated Atlantic 10 regular season in program history, did clinch second place with the result. The second-place finish is the best by the program since a tie for first in 2005.

The match was knotted at 0-0 before La Salle's Omari Cotterell solved the DU defense with a strike to the top left corner of the net from the top of the box with just under 15 minutes left.

Duquesne came right back to earn a penalty kick when Tate Mohney was taken down in the box in the 83rd minute.

La Salle's Filip Sabatti dove to his left to save the PK attempt off the foot of DU's Maxi Hopfer.

La Salle, who entered the game needing a win to keep it hopes for an Atlantic 10 Championship appearance alive, played aggressively throughout the match, but was unable to penetrate the Duquesne defense until late.

DU keeper Domenic Nascimben and La Salle's Sabatti finished with five save each.

Duquesne, which was picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, will host an A-10 Championship Quarterfinal game on Rooney Field on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET. It will be the first A-10 Championship game hosted by Duquesne in program history.

DU's opponent will be announced by the conference office along with the official bracket following completion of Saturday's matches.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• DU's Domenic Nascimben made a pair of saves in succession off an attacking Nigel Buckley in the 6th minute.
• Nascimben made another save on a tight shot from Omari Cotterell in the 14th minute.
• Duquesne didn't record its first shot until the 19th minute.
• Harper Cook's cross was a little too tall for 6-foot-4 Jayden Da with just under 15 minutes left in the half.
• Nascimben came off the line to cover a loose ball and prevent a La Salle scoring chance with just under five minutes left in the half.
• Logan Muck's side volley was blocked by La Salle in the 44th minute.
• La Salle outshot Duquesne 6-2, including 4-2 on goal, in the opening 45 minutes.
• A header by La Salle's Andres Rodriguez slid just by the right post just over one minute into the second half.
• La Salle's Omri Ezra shot wide right from in tight in the 48th minute as the Explorers applied pressure early.
• DU's Ask Ekeland weaved through traffic to bend a shot on net in the 55th minute.
• Elmar Jonsson's chip intended for the upper right corner sailed wide in the 76th minute.
• Cotterell left footed strike found a home in the top left corner of the net in the 81st minute.
• Tate Mohney was taken down in the box in the 83rd minute setting up a Maxi Hofper PK that was saved by a diving Filip Sabatti.
• La Salle finished with a 13-8 advantage in shots, including a slim 6-5 margin on net.
• DU's five shots on net came from five different players.