Women's Water Polo | January 25, 2024

PHILADELPHIA – The 2024 La Salle water polo team will kick off the start of their season Friday, Jan. 26 at 6:00 p.m. when they welcome the Mercyhurst Lakers to Joseph C. Kirk Pool.
 
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SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• The Explorers will begin the 2024 campaign being ranked tied for fourth in the MAAC conference this preseason. This ranking comes off of a 16-16 season last year, 6-7 in conference play.
• La Salle ended the season with a trip to the MAAC quarterfinals, however. The lost to the eventual champions LIU, 6-9.
• The schedule for the Explorers in 2024 is one with many challenges. A trip to California later on in the year will have tough opponents like San Diego State and Indiana. Within the conference, teams like LIU, Marist, and Wagner will test the Explorers.
• The team this season will feature a lot of new members, and returning stars from last season.
• New to the Explorers this season includes freshman attacker Martina Bonet Saez. The Spaniard comes to 20^th & Olney with a lot of talent and experience. She comes from a highly recognized club in Spain, the best one in the world.
• Additionally, goalkeeper Lily Kirby comes to La Salle from Stockton, Calif. where she played for the Big Valley Water Polo Club. Kirby will be looking to break through for the Explorers this season.
• Returning to the team this season is junior attacker Francesca Co'. The Italian is coming off an impressive sophomore season and was recognized for that this preseason.
• The MAAC Conference named Co' to the preseason All-MAAC Team. Last season she tallied 91 goals for La Salle, leading the team. She also accumulated 117 points, in part from her 26 assists. Teams will need to watch for Co' on the left side at all times.

 
SCOUTING THE LAKERS:

• Mercyhurst finished last season with a 7-15 overall record and went 2-4 in WWPA conference play where they would exit in the third-round of the conference tournament.
• The Lakers are returning 15 players to this year's roster. Those returnees include Panna Mozbauer and Allie Dombkowski, both all-conference honorees.
•  Mozbauer is a reliable backstop for the Lakers. She collected 74 saves in 11 games last season.
• There are only two newcomers to the Mercyhurst team this season. Freya Green and Marley Hanlon are set to take on their freshman season starting tomorrow.