Women's Water Polo | February 28, 2019

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Head coach Tom Hyham returns to California for the first time since assuming the helm at Olney Avenue in August of 2018. La Salle takes on the Convergence Tournament for four games over Friday and Saturday in Claremont, 45 miles north of where Hyham previously coached in Huntington Beach. Despite the familiarity of California, the Explorers plunge into the unknown as they face four opponents whom they've never played before. On the first day, they go up against Fresno Pacific and Concordia, followed by games vs. Sonoma State and Chapman.

ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• The trip isn't only a special return for the Coach Hyham. Before coming to La Salle, assistant coach Lindsay Rangel was at the helm of Ayala High School's women's water polo team in Chino Hills. She will also be going up against her alma mater, Sonoma State, on Saturday. Rangel tallied 104 career goals, plus 75 assists and 63 steals for the Seawolves.
• Three Explorers will also have California homecomings over the weekend. Juniors Stephanie Morales (San Diego) and Samantha Gaines (Tarzana), along with freshman Emily Rogers (Irvine), all hail from the Golden State.
• La Salle is coming off a 2-0 Saturday last weekend at the Red Fox Invitational. They defeated Mercyhurst 10-8 and Saint Francis Brooklyn 9-7. The latter game was their least amount of goals allowed to NCAA opposition since a 7-6 loss to Washington & Jefferson on February 25, 2017. It's also the third and fourth time they've held opponents to single-digit scoring this season.
• Over those two games, sophomore Madison Martinez and freshman Madelyn Koerper led the Explorers with five goals each. Sophomore Sarah DeFusco had four.
• Four-for-four: in each game, La Salle had two players with four points. DeFusco (three goals, one assist) and junior Katelynn Kubo (one goal, three assists) lit up the Lakers, while Martinez (three goals, one assist) and sophomore Jillian Delisle (two goals, two assists) took down the Terriers.
• Defensively, Martinez led the team in steals with five followed by fellow sophomores Karle Linden and DeFusco with four each. Defusco paced everyone in blocks with three.
• In goal, junior Jenny Fermaintt recorded 12 saves on 27 shots, good for a 44.4% save percentage.

SCOUTING FRESNO PACIFIC

• The Sunbirds are 1-10 on the season with their only win coming last weekend against the University of Toronto. Fresno Pacific is 1-4 in neutral location games.
• Fresno Pacific are led by junior Sam Witt and sophomore Katie Kisling, both of whom have 18 goals on the year.
• Game time: Friday, 3:30 p.m.

SCOUTING CONCORDIA

• In six games, the Eagles have a 4-2 record and are currently on a two-game winning streak. Concordia have faced one D-I opponent in 2019, falling to USC 21-0.
• Concordia boast plenty of experience on the team. Of the 22 players on the roster, 15 are either juniors or seniors.
• Game time: Friday, 7:15 p.m.

SCOUTING SONOMA STATE

• When Coach Rangel goes up against her former team, she'll be faced with a Seawolves squad who have improved recently. Sonoma State lost their opening four games before going 2-2 at the Tina Finali Invite last weekend. They are 2-6 on the season and 2-4 in neutral site contests.
• Senior Jordan Williams has paced the Seawolves this season with 17 goals, while in second is junior Annika Erickson with 15 strikes.
• Goalkeeper and sophomore Brooke Sullivan has recorded 54 saves this campaign and save percentage of 32.1%. Notably she leads the team in steals with 16, far ahead of senior Taylor Brooks in second with six.
• Game time: Saturday, 12 p.m.

SCOUTING CHAPMAN

• The Panthers have yet to win a game this season, having only played three times so far.
• Sophomore Audrey Hattori is the only Chapman athlete to score in each of the three games played. She leads the team in goals with four.
• Chapman has been outscored 35-13 in 2019. Senior goalkeeper Alyssa Welfringer has tallied nine seasons with a save percentage of 20.5%.
• Game time: Saturday, 6:15 p.m.