Women's Water Polo | January 26, 2024

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle women's water polo began the season with a bang with a 18-9 win over the Mercyhurst Lakers Friday night. The Explorers start their 2024 campaign with a win and look forward to the Bruno Classic next weekend.
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams came out of the gate tonight scoring on offense. The goalie to start the match both had a feeling out period, before they locked in.
• Throughout the first quarter, however, it was clear the All-MAAC Conference selection Francesca Co' came to play. The junior from Italy had a team leading two goals throughout the first quarter as the teams went into the second tied up at two goals apiece.
• The second quarter for both teams was more of the same, the offenses were exchanging goals up and down the pool. Aside from Co', Claire Durham got her first goal of the season in the second quarter to put the Explorers and Lakers at a 5-5 tie.
• Senior transfer would give the Explorers a 6-5 lead, but it would not last long as Alexa Corrao tied things back up for the Lakers with 2:43 remaining in the half.
• A pair of goals from Kolovou and Tatum Lomax got La Salle back on top to end the half as they led 8-6 at the break.
• To begin the third quarter, Mercyhurst quickly tied things up at eight, but that would be one of the last goals they scored all game as the Explorer offense and defense came out blazing in the second half.
• At the 5:55 mark in the third, Francesca Co' had one of the more impressive goals you will see. The Italian collected the ball five feet from the goalie, and with the defender on her she spun around without looking at the net and put the ball past the keeper for the score.
• Continuing on with more impressive goals, freshman goalkeeper Lily Kirby wanted to join in on the scoring for La Salle. After a strong defensive stop by the Explorers, Kirby found an opening behind the Mercyhurst goalie from across the pool, and got the Explorers lead up to 12-8.
• La Salle would score three more times before the end of the third to make it 15-8.
• In the final frame of play, the Explorers continued to score aided by sophomore Whitney Wood and Durham's second goal of the game. The final score was 18-9 Explorers.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Explorers leading goal-scorer tonight was Francesca Co' with six goals. She also led with ten shots taken.
• La Salle had three more players in double digits tonight as Grace Smith, Sofia Kolovou, and Claire Durham all had two goals scored. Durham and Kolovou were 2-2 shots to goals.
• On the defensive end of the pool Hannah Woren, Whitney Wood, and Francesca Co' all had multiple steals on the night. Co' led the team with six steals.
• Co' also helped distribute the ball at a high rate as she totaled four assists along with Casey Malone.
• In goal, freshman Lily Kirby had a great first showing. She totaled nine saves, two assists, one steal, one shot, and one goal.

 
UP NEXT –

• La Salle will be back in action next weekend for the Bruno Classic. The weekend will begin with a match up against Pomona Pitzer, followed by a game with Saint Francis University on Saturday.
• The action will continue Sunday first against Harvard followed by a meeting with Austin College.