Women's Water Polo | February 9, 2019
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- La Salle began the Bucknell Invitational with losses to Siena and Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. The Explorers were competitive in both games, receiving strong scoring contributions from
Madison Martinez (five goals),
Sarah DeFusco (three goals), and
Madelyn Koerper (three goals).
Siena 18, La Salle 6
HOW IT HAPPENED
- La Salle conceded two goals to open the game before Jillian Delisle's strike midway through the first brought the Explorers within one. Siena closed out the quarter with another pair of goals and a 4-1 lead.
- The Explorers went down 5-1 early into the following quarter and consistently stayed within a four-goal deficit. DeFusco netted at 5:23 to make it 6-2, Koerper scored at 7-3, and DeFusco again found the back of the net with 2:05 left to make it 8-4. The Saints would stretch it to a five-goal advantage at the half.
- La Salle never came within such a close margin in the following quarters as Siena went on a 9-2 run in the second half to close the game out.
- DeFusco led all Explorers with three goals in the game, with Delisle, Koerper, and Karle Linden also tallying strikes.
- On the game, the women in white caps drew five exclusions and won three sprints.
Saint Franics (Pa.) 9, La Salle 7
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Explorers got out in front after the first quarter to the tune of a 4-3 lead. The initial proceedings were a back-and-forth shootout between Martinez and the Red Flash's Ani Aghakhanian; the two utility players each found the back of the net three times in the period.
- At the 6:55 mark, Saint Francis equalized with Aghakhanian. However, Koerper and Martinez returned the score to a two-goal advantage for La Salle at the half.
- In the following quarter, the Red Flash netted twice courtesy of Caroline Gillespie and Kelsey Gring. The Explorers wouldn't have an answer until the following period.
- Saint Francis got off to a fast start in the final frame with a pair of goals. While Martinez brought one back for the Explorers, her opposing number (Gring) put the game to bed at 9-7 with 3:22 remaining.
- La Salle won four sprints on the game. All of their exclusions drawn (also four) were recorded in the first half of play.
UP NEXT
- La Salle close out the Bucknell Invitational on Sunday with two matches. They face Salem for the first time at 12:00 p.m. and then go up against the hosts, Bucknell, in the final game of the weekend at 5:20 p.m.
