Women's Water Polo | March 8, 2019

LEXINGTON, Va. – Women's water polo travels south for the beginning of conference play this weekend, commencing a run of 14 league games through March and April. The Explorers will have an eye fixed on what lies at the end of next month—a semifinal spot in the MAAC Championship—but they must face each conference rival twice before they can get there. That all starts on Saturday with games against Marist and Saint Francis Brooklyn, then Sunday against Iona and VMI.

ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• Over their last six games, La Salle has split the difference by going 3-3 while averaging 9.3 goals per game in that span.
• The Explorers picked up a win last weekend in California by defeating Fresno Pacific 14-13. Five players finished with multiple goals, led by sophomore Sarah DeFusco with four.
• At the Convergence Tournament, DeFusco paced all Explorers with 13 goals over the four games. Fellow sophomores Madelyn Koerper and Madison Martinez followed her with eight and six goals respectively.
• Sophomore Jillian Delisle and junior Jenny Fermaintt shared the title of top provider as both finished with four assists.
• Fermaintt spent the bulk of time in goal, saving 22 shots and recording a save percentage of 36.7%.

SCOUTING MARIST

• The Red Foxes are 7-10 on the season and 4-6 in neutral site games. Although they're currently on a four-game losing streak, those defeats all came against nationally-ranked opposition.
• Although La Salle has yet to play Marist this season, they're a familiar side for head coach Tom Hyham. His daughter, freshman goalkeeper Marina Hyham, has played eight games for the Red Foxes this season. She has recorded 46 saves in her debut campaign and a save percentage of 41.8%.
• A pair of Red Foxes top the team in goals as junior Justine Castro and freshman Myriam Lizotte both have 19 in 2019.
• Game time: Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN

• The Terriers are 1-11 so far and currently on a nine-game losing streak. The team's only win came in their third game of the season vs. Saint Francis (Pa.)
• La Salle's latest win this season came against St. Francis Brooklyn on February 23rd. In the 9-7 victory, Martinez recorded a hattrick in the game to go along with three assists and four steals.
• Despite their record, the Terriers boast one of the most potent scorers in the MAAC. Sophomore Kelsey Snelgar, with 57 goals, far-and-away leads the team. None of her other teammates have more than eight.
• Game time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

SCOUTING IONA

• Iona are 5-11 in 2019 and 3-8 in neutral games. They have gone 1-4 in their last five games.
• The Gaels have four athletes with 20-plus points this season. Sophomore Jordan van Reeken leads the way with 47 (39 goals, eight assists), followed by a triple-threat of freshmen in Jillian Schultz with 36 (28 goals, eight assists), Maeve Wydan with 30 (15 goals, 15 assists) and Karsyn Stewart with 22 (nine goals, 13 assists).
• Redshirt junior Jordin Hale is the main netminder. She has 157 saves this season and 51.5% save percentage—one of the top marks in the conference.
• Game time: Sunday, 9 a.m.

SCOUTING VMI

• The hosts of the weekend have gotten off to a fast start with a 10-4 record approaching MAAC play.
• The Keydets have largely found their scoring from senior Sarah Dolitsky and redshirt freshman McKenna Imset. The former has 50 goals while the latter has 47. Both have more than ten assists and both are at or above the 60-point threshold.
• In goal is junior Isabel French. The Illinois native has recorded 163 saves and 140 goals against while stopping 53.8 percent of the shots fired her way. Her save percentage is the best mark in the MAAC among goalkeepers who have faced more than 20 shots this season.
• Game time: Sunday, 4:30 p.m. This game can be streamed on ESPN+.