Women's Water Polo | March 7, 2020

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Women's water polo (8-10) powered its way to a pair of wins on Saturday, defeating Occidental and Fresno Pacific while cementing the program's first ever three-win weekend in the process. Junior Sarah DeFusco dominated in both games, scoring 12 goals and dishing out six assists. 
 
La Salle 12, Occidental 6
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team could find the back of the net for the majority of the first quarter. DeFusco broke the stalemate with 41 seconds for the only goal of the frame.
• The Explorers began to find their offensive touch in the second, rattling off three straight goals. The Tigers finally got on the board with less than a minute remaining in the quarter as La Salle led 4-1 heading into the break.
• Two more goals for the East Coast side pushed its advantage to 6-1. Occidental scored three of the remaining five goals in the third to cut the deficit to 8-4.
• La Salle created more separation through freshman Casey Malone and DeFusco. The two team then split the final four goal evenly between them to wrap up the fourth.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• DeFusco stood out with six goals (on 16 shots) and three assists. She added three steals and two exclusions earned.
• Other Explorers with multi-goal games were senior Katelynn Kubo and junior Jillian DeLisle, each with a brace. Kubo added three steals and DeLisle assisted once.
• Freshman watch: Casey Malone finished with a goal, an assist and three steals, while Zuanich recorded two assists, three steals and a lockout drawn.
• In net, rookie Caitlin Valentine had three saves ok four shots. Fellow freshman Emma Gurasich finished with four saves on nine shots.

 
La Salle 15, Fresno Pacific 9
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sunbirds jumped out a 2-0 lead, quickly erased by the Explorers. Fresno Pacific got back in front at the buzzer with a half-pool heave.
• The two teams exchanged goals before La Salle struck for three straight to take the lead, 6-4.
• La Salle began the third quarter taking three of the next four scores to lead 9-5. Two straight from Fresno cut the deficit to two, which La Salle answered with two of its own. 
  The Explorers started the fourth with an additional pair of scores to go up six. Although the Sunbirds scored twice, goals from junior Karle Linden and freshman Shanna Zuanich put a stamp on the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• DeFusco was even more efficient in the second game of the day, striking for six goals on 10 shots, adding three assists.
• Sophomore Madelyn Koerper impressed with a hattrick, one assist and three exclusions earned.
• Junior Madison Martinez was the other Explorer with a multi-goal game, recording a brace and an assist.
• DeLisle matched DeFusco in assists with three each. Malone and Zuanich followed with two dishes. 
• Both rookies stuffed the staff sheet with Zuanich tallying three steals and two kickouts drawn and Malone stealing twice and drawing three exclusions.
• Valentine impressed in net with six saves on 10 shots. 

UP NEXT

• The Blue & Gold takes some time off before returning home against Siena on March 22nd. That kickstarts a stretch of four consecutive home games.