Women's Water Polo | March 19, 2021

PHILADELPHIA – Women's water polo looks to continue its strong start to the season when it hits the road this weekend. La Salle, ranked 24th in the country, first travels to Villanova for an exhibition match on Saturday, proceeded by neutral site contests against McKendree and Gannon on Sunday in Morgantown, West Virginia.
 
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS

• Many in the Blue & Gold deserve plaudits for the three-win weekend as the team has gelled well to begin the campaign. Sophomore Sophia Appler and freshman Hannah Woren were recognized by the MAAC with weekly awards; Appler as Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Woren as Rookie of the Week.
• Appler stuffed the stat sheet with eight blocks and seven steals to go along with five goals and nine assists.
• Woren paces all freshman with three goals, four assists and seven steals.
• On offense, junior Madelyn Koerper leads the team in goals with 16. She is second overall in points with 21, trailing senior Madison Martinez on 23.
• Martinez posted blistering numbers to start, recording 14 goals on 20 shots, nine assists, five steals and four exclusions earned. 
• Senior Sarah DeFusco has also posted solid numbers across the opening five games, amassing 14 goals, six assists, five exclusions earned, four steals and four blocks.
• Pacing the team in steals is senior Karle Linden with six. The Erie, Pa. native also posted seven blocks, seven assist and five goals.
• In net, sophomores Caitlin Valentine and Emma Gurasich have split time so far. Valentine has tallied 33 saves on 68 shots (.485 save percentage) and Gurasich has recorded 29 saves on 52 shots (.558 save percentage). Gurasich is also tied for the team lead in steals with six.

 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

• Villanova has started at 4-2 this season, including winning its last two games over Gannon and Mount St. Mary's.
• Although this game will not count, it is notable that La Salle is on two-game winning streak over the Wildcats. This match will act as a tune up for when the teams play each other twice in April.
• Junior utility Kaysie Stuba helped power the Wildcats to a 2-1 weekend with a team-leading 11 goals.
• Freshman goalkeeper Abigail Shelby was the other recipient of the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Week award, recording 27 saves and three steals across the three games.
• Game time: Saturday, 11 a.m.

 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

• This upcoming weekend marks the start of the season for McKendree. Last year, they went 4-10, including a 15-11 defeat to the Explorers.
• In that game against La Salle, junior center Abigail Burton recorded a hattrick. Junior goalkeeper Isabella Strimling tallied eight saves.
• Game time: Sunday, 2 p.m.

 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

• Gannon is still looking for its first win of the season as it has begun 0-3. The Knights have fallen to La Salle, VMI and Villanova.
• Graduate student Campbell Ruh has been the team's scoring leader in 2021 with 10 goals. Junior utility Nicole Wiemken paces the team in assists (seven) to go along with five goals.
• Former Explorer Mary Trese Squeglia posted the majority of her stats in the game against La Salle, netting a brace and adding an assist against her old team.
• In net, sophomore Sydney Klakeg has tallied 13 saves on 54 shots.
• Game time: Sunday, 6 p.m.