Women's Water Polo | April 3, 2021

PHILADELPHIA – #25 Women's water polo suffered only its third loss of the year on Saturday, a 14-10 result against LIU. Junior Madelyn Koerper and sophomore Sophie Appler accounted for most of La Salle's scoring with each tallying four goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sharks attacked early and held a 4-0 leading after the opening frame. 
• A goal from senior Sarah DeFusco cut into the lead, countered by an LIU score. Appler then struck for her first of the game, answered by two more LIU goals. La Salle's number 13 scored again with eight seconds remaining to make it 7-3 heading into the intermission.
• The teams went back and forth coming out of the half with neither giving an inch. Koerper struck for three in the third, her last of which made it an 11-8 deficit with six seconds left in the period.
• Neither side scored much in the fourth quarter. LIU tallied twice to stretch its advantage to five, Appler scored, the Sharks bit back and a late Appler goal wrapped up the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Along with Koerper and Appler, senior Madison Martinez was the other Explorer heavily involved in the offense. La Salle's number nine finished as the top provider with three assists to go along with a goal.
• Defensively, Appler set a career-high four steals against the Sharks. That was good for second highest on the team behind DeFusco with five.
• Koerper also finished with a team-high four exclusions earned. Sophomore Shanna Zuanich followed her with three.
• In net, sophomore Emma Gurasich recorded eight saves and dished out a career-best three assists.

UP NEXT

• The Blue & Gold hosts Villanova and Marist next weekend. The Wildcats arrive on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game, while the Red Foxes play Sunday at 6 p.m.