Women's Water Polo | February 14, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – After a 2-2 weekend in Lewisburg, women's water polo remains in Pennsylvania with a trip to Erie up next. The Explorers open the Mercyhurst Invite Saturday with a chance at revenge against Salem followed by McKendree later in the day. Sunday they'll face the hosts in the morning and Gannon in the evening.
 
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• 15 goals and four assists from junior Sarah DeFusco last weekend continues her hot streak to start the season. She has 25 goals overall and paces the team in steals (15).
• Classmate Jillian DeLisle closely follows DeFusco in points this season with 28, the majority of which have come via assists (23). She had 13 dishes last weekend.
• Key contributors on defense have included junior Karle Linden and freshman Caitlin Valentine. Linden is the lone Explorer with double digit blocks (10), while Valentine has 48 saves and a .449 save percentage.
• Valentine isn't the only freshman highlight to date. Sophie Appler has shown a nicely balanced game with eight goals and seven assists, adding five steals. Shanna Zuanich flashed her ability at the Bucknell Invite with five goals, three assists and five exclusions earned. Casey Malone tallied a goal, three assists and three steals in Lewisburg.
• Junior Madison Martinez is the team's second leading goalscorer with 12 on the year, eight of which came on the weekend. Her five goals helped power La Salle to victory over George Washington.
• Overall, the Blue & Gold outscored teams 42-35 at the Bison Invite.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

• Salem got off to a blistering start to the 2020 season with four straight wins. It fell to Bucknell and George Washington in Lewisburg but finished with wins over Gannon and LIU.
• The 6-2 Tigers are led by sophomores Annefleur ten Bloemendal and Margherita Garibbo, both of whom have eclipsed 35 points this season. ten Bloemendal leads the team with 25 goals and 22 assists, while Garibbo has 23 goals and 12 assists.
• In net, Philippa Piper has 91 saves and a .526 save percentage.
• Game time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

• McKendree has started off 2-0 this season with wins over Wittenberg and Lindenwood, outscoring its opposition 37-14.
• Senior Brianna Mullalley led the charge with nine goals, adding two assists.
• In their one career matchup, McKendree prevailed over La Salle 13-8 last season.
• Game time: Saturday, 5:45 p.m.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS

• Mercyhurst got its season started last weekend at the Bison Invite, going 1-3 with its win coming over La Salle, 13-12.
• Four Lakers finished with multiple goals last time the two teams met: sophomore Cassie Anderson (four), senior Lindsey Mizrahi (three), junior Maddie Nye (two) and freshman Hanna Good (two).
• Game time: Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

• Gannon has begun its 2020 campaign with a 2-2 mark, defeating Mercyhurst and St. Francis Brooklyn and falling to Salem and George Washington.
• Pacing the Golden Knights on offense has been sophomore Nicole Wiemken (nine goals, five assists) and senior Kelly Fehr (10 goals).
• In net, freshman Sydney Klakeg has recorded 31 saves on a .456 save percentage.
• Game time: Sunday, 4:45 p.m.