Women's Water Polo | March 27, 2021
LEXINGTON, Va. – #24 Women's water polo opened conference play with a victory on Saturday, defeating VMI 19-10. The win is La Salle's first ever over the Keydets. Five Explorers finished with multi-goal games, led by senior
Sarah DeFusco with five goals and five assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The teams traded goals to begin the game, each finding the back of the net twice. La Salle then took an early advantage with another pair of scores courtesy of DeFusco and junior Madelyn Koerper. VMI responded, DeFusco scored again and the Keydets tallied the final goal of the period as the Blue & Gold led, 5-4.
- The home side continued where it left off in the second quarter, scoring twice to retake the lead. La Salle fought back with an onslaught of five straight goals in two minutes to take a 10-6 advantage. The Keydets cut the deficit to three before DeFusco extended it at the conclusion of the half.
- Sophomores Casey Malone and Shanna Zuanich got in on the action early in the third, pushing the score to 13-7. The teams then traded goals to see out the third with the Explorers up 15-9.
- Sophomore Sophie Appler opened the scoring for the Explorers in the fourth. VMI answered back, quickly followed by another Appler tally. Goals from DeFusco and sophomore Sofia Curtis iced the game for La Salle.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- DeFusco's point total ties a career high. She also added three steals and an exclusion earned.
- La Salle's number eight was joined by Koerper, Appler, Zuanich and freshman Hannah Woren as Explorers with multi-goal games.
- Koerper had the second most goals with four. She also added two assists, a steal and exclusion earned.
- Appler finished with a hattrick, two steals and two kickouts drawn.
- Woren and Zuanich both tallied braces. Zuanich mainly turned provider in this game, recording six assists—one short of the program record. She also finished with four exclusions earned.
- Junior Charley Stricker had a nice day, dishing out a pair of assists to go along with two kickouts drawn and a steal.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Gurasich's previous career high for saves was seven, which she set in the opening games of this season. She blew that out of the water with 12 in this game on 22 shots. Gurasich also added two assists and three steals.
COACH'S THOUGHTS
- Head coach Tom Hyham had this to say on the win: "These ladies are up for the challenge this season. This team has grown together over the past few years and the chemistry is really starting to show. We have a tough road ahead of us, but getting the first conference win gives us tremendous confidence."
UP NEXT
- La Salle, on a four-game winning streak, play host to LIU next Saturday at 2 p.m.
