Women's Water Polo | February 16, 2020

ERIE, Pa. – Women's water polo concluded the Mercyhurst Invite by splitting its pair of games on Sunday. La Salle (5-6) fell to the hosts in the morning before emerging victorious in a tight contest against Gannon. Junior Sarah DeFusco yet again led the offensive charge with eight goals on the day, while classmate Madison Martinez struck for four in the Explorers' triumph, including the game-winning goal.

Mercyhurst 12, La Salle 7
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freshman Shanna Zuanich grabbed the opening goal to which Mercyhurst countered with a brace.
• Mercyhurst scored again to begin the second, a lead that was quickly erased by a pair of goals from DeFusco. Three unanswered from the Lakers pushed the gap wider, DeFusco scored and Mercyhurst responded.
• The teams traded goals out of the half before the home side went on a three-goal run to make it 11-5. A strike from freshman Casey Malone stopped the slide before the end of the period.
• The fourth went by quietly. DeFusco found the back of the net early, answered back quickly by the Lakers. Neither team scored for the remaining six minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• DeFusco was the constant goal threat for the Blue & Gold, netting four. She also earned four exclusions.
• Zuanich was the other Explorer with a multi-goal game, tallying brace and adding two assists.
• Her assist mark was tied for the team high, matched by Martinez and classmate Karle Linden.

La Salle 11, Gannon 10
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Golden Knights opened the scoring, but La Salle retook the lead shortly after through Linden and classmate Jillian DeLisle.
• A hattrick by Martinez in the space of a minute and 12 seconds stretched the Explorers' lead to 5-1. Sophomore Madelyn Koerper extended the advantage to five goals before Gannon tallied twice.
• The third quarter started similarly to the second, this time it was DeFusco netting a hattrick over the course of three minutes and 28 seconds as La Salle led 9-3. The Golden Knights proceeded to claw back within four heading into the fourth.
• A quartet of goals for Gannon to start the final frame locked the affair at 9-9 with 4:18 remaining. DeFusco scored, Gannon equalized, and Martinez found the game-winning goal with 46 seconds remaining.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Along with her crucial game-winning goal, Martinez did it all: four strikes to go along with four steals and two blocks. Classmate DeFusco also netted four for the Blue & Gold.
• DeLisle topped the team in assists with four, closely followed by senior Katelynn Kubo on three. The latter also led the team in blocks with three.
• In net, freshman Caitlin Valentine recorded seven saves on 17 shots against.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers face a tough slate this upcoming week, traveling to #21 Princeton on Thursday, followed by matches against #17 Wagner and RV Brown at the Red Fox Invite on Saturday.