Women's Lacrosse | March 9, 2021
PHILADELPHIA – Lacrosse hits the road for the first time this campaign, but won't be going far. The Explorers are set to face Villanova in a Big 5 matchup on Wednesday with first draw at 1 p.m. They're coming off a 9-6 loss to Lehigh on Saturday and sit at 1-1 on the season after defeating Delaware in the season opener.
The Explorers' defense has displayed as a strength in 2021 and that has been reflected in conference recognition. Senior
Priya Kavuru won Defensive Player of the Week after the first weekend, and classmate
Molly Loughlin joined her the following week after recording 17 saves vs. the Mountain Hawks.
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS
- Loughlin boasts conference-leading marks in saves per game (14.00), save percentage (.683) and goals against average (6.50). The former two ranks second in the country, while the latter stat comes in at seventh.
- Kavuru currently leads the conference in caused turnovers per game with 2.5, good for 12th In the nation. She is followed by freshman Maddie Henderson (1.5 per game), who is third in the A-10.
- Kavuru also ranks fifth in the conference in ground balls per game (2.5).
- On the offensive end, the Blue & Gold is led by senior Bridget Ruskey who has tallied five goals and an assist. Her 2.5 goals per game is fifth in the country.
- La Salle's number 27 has displayed an all-around game with four ground balls and a team-high five draw controls.
- Ruskey is closely followed in scoring by classmate Annina Iacobucci, sitting on four goals and an assist this campaign. Iacobucci's two goals a game is ninth in the A-10.
- La Salle also ranks highly in the A-10 in clearing percentage (.839) and draw control percentage (.500).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
- Villanova is 1-3 this season, beginning with an overtime win over Wagner. It then fell to Temple, Loyola (Md.) and Drexel.
- The Explorers have not played the Wildcats in nine years, but have the edge in recent history. They are 3-1 since 2009 and are on a two-game winning streak when traveling to Villanova.
- This season, the city rivals are led on offense by junior Libby McKenna, who has 10 goals. Graduate student Katie Comerford tops the team in assists thus far with eight.
- In net, Alexa Moro and Mary Alice Collins have split time. More has clocked 148 minutes with 19 saves on 63 shots. Collins has seen 95 minutes in the cage and has tallied 20 saves on 46 shots.
