Women's Water Polo | April 30, 2021
PHILADELPHIA – #24 Women's water polo travels to Poukghkeepsie, N.Y. for its first ever playoff appearance on Saturday. The Explorers take on hosts Marist, who are 21st in the national rankings and the number one seed in the MAAC Championship for a spot in the championship game. The winner will take on VMI, who advanced in a no-contest decision over LIU. Consequently, La Salle's game is now bumped up to a 1 p.m. start.
ABOUT THE EXPLORERS
- La Salle is 11-4 this season with a 6-2 record in conference play.
- Most recently, the Blue & Gold picked up conference accolades as senior Madison Martinez was named Offensive Player of the Year, joining classmate Sarah DeFusco on First Team All-Conference. Junior Madelyn Koerper made Second Team All-Conference. The trio forms La Salle's main attacking threat.
- Two other top attacking threats are sophomores Shanna Zuanich and Sophie Appler. Zuanich has recorded 30 goals and 29 assists, making her the team's second highest provider. Appler has tallied 28 goals and 22 assists.
- La Salle's number 13 is additionally tied for the team lead in steals (24) and second in blocks (11).
- Senior Karle Linden yet again paces the Explorers on defense, and leads the team in rejections with 18 to go along with 21 steals. She has also assisted 25 times and scored 14.
- In net, sophomore Emma Gurasich has tallied 101 saves, 14 steals and 16 assists. Classmate Caitlin Valentine has 73 saves.
SCOUTING THE RED FOXES
- Marist waited until April 21st to begin its season, but has since rattled off six straight wins for a perfect record heading into Saturday's tilt.
- The Red Foxes boasted three First Team All-Conference selections and two Second Team All-Conference selections. First Team: junior Marina Hyham, junior Myriam Lizotte and sophomore Shinae Carrington. Second Team: graduate student Justine Castro and junior Viktoria Orlova.
- Hyham is the daughter of Explorers head coach Tom Hyham and recently picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors. Anchoring Marist to its 6-0 start, she recorded 39 saves on 65 shots for a .600 save percentage and a 7.05 goals against average.
- Orlova is the leading goal scorer with 15 this season, followed by Carrington with 14 and Lizotte on 10.
