Women's Water Polo | March 19, 2023

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The La Salle women's water polo team faced No. 18 Wagner and No. 24 LIU to open up conference play for the season unfortunately dropping both contests.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (WAGNER):

• The Seahawks jumped out to an early four-goal lead after the first period holding the Explorers scoreless in the first eight minutes.
• Madelyn Koerper put up all three goals for the Explorers in the second frame with Wagner putting up five goals to take a 9-3 advantage over La Salle heading into the second half.
• Wagner opened up the scoring to start the third period answered by Francesca Co' with a long-range goal to keep the deficit down to six, 10-4. The Seahawks took a 3-0 run out of the frame for the 13-4 edge heading into the final eight minutes of the game.
• La Salle started the fourth strong with a 2-0 run thanks to the duo of Co' and Koerper to bring the Explorers within seven, 13-6. Wagner held the 3-1 edge through the rest of the game for the 16-7 win.
• Koerper led the offense with five goals joined by Co' with two.
• Hannah Woren and Casey Malone shared the defensive efforts with a team-high two steals each. The duo was joined on defense by Shanna Zuanich with a team-high two blocks.
• Emma Gurasich spent the entirety of the game in the net making a single-game program record 18 saves in the contest.
• Wagner held the advantage in sprints 3-1 with Malone winning the Explorers' only sprint of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED (LIU):

• La Salle kept it within a single point after the first period giving up just three goals to the Sharks while recording two of its own. LIU broke open the scoring in the second period putting up five goals and holding the Explorers to two for the 8-4 lead heading into the second half.
• LIU opened the second half they way it ended the first with another five goals with La Salle able to only convert two for the 13-6 edge heading into the final eight minutes of play. The Explorers' offense slowed in the final eight minutes unable to find the back of the net for the 15-6 loss.
• Koerper led the offense yet again with a team-high three goals. Co' added two goals to the scoring effort while Malone recorded one.
• Woren and Co' led the defensive efforts with Co' recording a team-high two blocks and Woren making a team-high three steals.
• Guraisch made nine saves in the cage.

UP NEXT:
La Salle heads back to Philadelphia for its only three home games of the season in Kirk Pool at TruMark Financial Center next weekend. The Explorers will kick things off on Saturday, Mar. 25 against VMI at 12 p.m. followed by another matchup with Wagner at 4 p.m. La Salle will then face local rival Villanova on Sunday, Mar. 26 at 1 p.m. for senior day.