Women's Water Polo | March 24, 2023

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The La Salle women's water polo team will play its first and only home contests of the season this weekend facing three opponents.
 
The Explorers will take on VMI on Saturday, Mar. 25 at 12 p.m. followed by Wagner at 4 p.m. La Salle will return on Sunday, Mar. 26 to take on cross-town rival Villanova at 1 p.m. for senior day. Celebrations of the senior class will begin at 12:40 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle enters the contest looking to snap a three-game skid and stay in the over .500 category. The Explorers are 10-10 on the season, but have yet to secure a conference victory holding an 0-2 mark in conference play.
• Emma Gurasich have served as the primary goalie for the Explorers this season. She currently has 123 saves on the season reaching the 100-save milestone in the contest against Wagner on Mar. 19.
• Francesca Co' leads the offensive efforts for the Explorers with a team-high 63 goals from 169 shots. She also leads the Explorers in the steals category with 43 and blocks category with 18.
• Hannah Woren has been the lead helping hand for La Salle with a team-high 21 assists.
• The Explorers have only faced Wagner once already this season dropping the contest 16-7. This will be the first meeting of the season between La Salle and VMI and La Salle and Villanova.

SCOUTING THE KEYDETS:

• VMI enters the contest at 3-9 on the season and 0-3 in conference play. The Keydets are currently on a six-game skid.
• Katie Llyod is the lead goalkeeper for the Keydets recording 336 minutes in the cage making 62 saves and adding seven steals.
• Courtney Novotny and Sadie Smith both lead the scoring efforts for the Keydets with 29 goals apiece.
• Sydney Shettleroe leads the assists for VMI with 16.
• Gia Donatelli leads the defensive efforts from the field with team-highs in field blocks (6) and steals (18).

SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS:

• Wagner enters the contest at 20-4 on the season and undefeated in conference play with a mark of 3-0.
• The Seahawks are on a five-game win streak with one of its last wins coming against the Explorers just a week prior.
• Abby Simshauser leads the scoring efforts for the Seahawks with 66 goals on the season.
• Mar Navarro leads the assists efforts with 25 this season.
• Francesca Sena was most recently named MAAC Rookie of the Week after starting in all three contests last weekend for the Seahawks. She stopped 18 of 38 shots and earned eight steals.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:

• Villanova enters the contest at 11-12 on the season and 1-2 in conference play. The only conference victory for the Wildcats came against VMI last weekend in a 21-6 win.
• The Wildcats are on a single-game skid most recently dropping a contest to Wagner, 18-9.
• Emily McKenzie leads the scoring efforts for the Wildcats with 11 goals.
• Sara Withers leads the team in assists with seven.
• Abigail Shelby has spent 136 minutes in the net this season totaling 44 saves one assist and five steals.