Women's Water Polo | March 5, 2023

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The La Salle women's water polo team recorded its third double-digit margin of victory over Gannon to start the day before facing Harvard in a close battle nearly defeating the number 19 team in the nation to end the second and final day of the Harvard Invitational in a 1-1 split.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GANNON):

• La Salle took an early 5-1 lead over the Golden Knights after the first period of play. The second quarter slowed with Gannon finally getting on the board while holding the Explorers defense to just two goals to keep the deficit down to five, 7-2.
• The Explorers' offense came into the second half hot with an eight-goal performance in the third period shutting out the Golden Knights for the 15-2 edge. Gannon held the 2-1 advantage in the final frame, but couldn't overcome the deficit dropping the contest 16-4.
• Francesca Co' led the scoring efforts with six goals and nine shots.
• Hannah Woren recorded three goals while both Whitney Wood and Tatum Lomax tallied two goals each.
• Grace Smith, Ella Tice and Madelyn Koerper each contributed a goal for the Explorers.
• Co' and Lomax also led the defensive efforts. Co' recorded three steals and one block while Lomax had three blocks and one steal.
• Koerper drew a team-high three exclusions.
• The Explorers were 4-0 in sprints.
• Caitlin Valentine recorded four saves in the net and added one assist.

HOW IT HAPPENED (HARVARD):

• La Salle took an early lead after the first eight minute holding the No. 19 Harvard Crimson to just three goals while putting up four of their own. The Explorers offense struggled in the second half unable to convert allowing the Crimson to pull ahead by one, 5-4.
• The Explorers tied it three times in the third period heading into the final eight minutes knotted at 7-7. Harvard jumped out to a two-goal lead, 9-7, with Woren finding the back of the net for the Explorers to keep the deficit down to one. The Crimson went on a two-goal run answered by Koerper to keep the Explorers within two, 11-9 with just under four minutes to play. Harvard took a 2-0 run through the final seconds for the 13-9 win.
• Woren and Co' shared the offensive duties each recording a hat trick in the game.
• Koerper, Lomax and Casey Malone all added a goal each for La Salle.
• Co' led the team in blocks with four.
• Emma Gurasich tallied 11 saves in the cage.

UP NEXT:
The Explorers will take a two-week break before kicking off conference play against Wagner on Mar. 19 at 10 a.m.