Women's Water Polo | April 19, 2019

PHILADELPHIA –Women's water polo concluded its season with a win against Siena on April 14th, setting its 2019 record at 10-23 overall and 5-9 in conference play, finishing fifth in the MAAC. The third campaign in program history—the first under head coach Tom Hyham—was defined by landmark moments and record-smashing statistical feats.
 
EXPLORERS BY THE NUMBERS

• A season of firsts: the Explorers recorded their first D-1 win against St. Francis (Pa.) on February 16th. A week later they followed that with two wins in a day for the first time and then recorded their first conference win against St. Francis Brooklyn on March 9th. In one of their last games of the season, they defeated Villanova in overtime for their first home win ever.
• Historic team-bests: La Salle scored the most goals in a single season (288) in program history, along with the highest goals-per-game average (8.7). The Explorers also improved defensively with a goals-allowed-per-game average of 14.4, also a program best.
• Sophomore transfer Sarah DeFusco made a huge impact in her debut season for La Salle. She topped the team and set school records in points with 125 and goals with 92; her season-high in steals at 38 ties a program best. DeFusco finished third in the conference in goals.
• Last season's top scorer, sophomore Jillian Delisle, finished second on points with 93. Although Delisle was fourth on the team in goals, she was La Salle's key playmaker with 71 assists (a school record). Delisle dished out 42 in conference play, a mark which topped the MAAC. La Salle's number 15 was also second on the team in exclusions earned with 46.
• The player who drew the most kickouts in 2019 was freshman Madelyn Koerper. The rookie recorded 49 exclusions earned (a program record), along with being third on the team in goals with 41.
• Second in goals and third in points was sophomore Madison Martinez with 57 and 85 respectively. Martinez also finished tied for third in steals with 34.
• Another top-ranking Explorer was defensive stalwart Karle Linden, one of three in the blue and gold to start every game. Linden far and away led the team in blocked shots with 36 this season (a school record), 22 more than Defusco in second. Linden also netted 28 goals with a 39% shot percentage, tied with DeFusco for the highest of any Explorer above 20 goals in 2019.
• Junior Katelynn Kubo notably paced the MAAC by winning 81% of her sprints. In conference play, she led everyone with 25 sprints won. She also trailed only DeFusco in steals this season with 35 and finished fourth on the team in assists with 27.
• In net, junior Jenny Fermaintt stopped the third-most shots in the MAAC, recording 199 saves. Her save percentage over 33 games was 39%. Fermaintt was also fifth on the team in assists with 24 and sixth in steals with 16.