Women's Water Polo | February 11, 2024

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The La Salle water polo team put on a strong performance at the Bucknell Invitational this weekend, taking down Mercyhurst, Mount St. Mary's, and Villanova, with the lone defeat coming at the hands of No. 18 Wagner. The Explorers advance to 6-3 on the season, its second-best winning percentage through nine games in program history.

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HOW IT HAPPENED (MERCYHURST, W 13-3):

• The Explorers looked to repeat a stellar performance from the season opener, when La Salle slammed Mercyhurst, 18-9.
• From the opening, it was clear La Salle was on a mission, winning the first frame 5-0 with goals from four different Explorers. Freshman Martina Bonet Saez scored twice.
• Both La Salle and Bonet Saez continued to roll. The rookie from Spain found the back of the net for two of La Salle's three goals as the squad took an 8-0 lead into halftime.
• The Lakers attempted to climb back into the contest in the third frame, sandwiching a Francesca Co' goal with a pair of their own to put the tally at 9-2, but the Explorers unleashed an onslaught to end the quarter, scoring three goals in the final 2:15 to go up 12-2. Sofia Kolovou scored two of the three to end the quarter.
• Co' scored the lone goal of the fourth for the Explorers as La Salle took the win, 13-3.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (MOUNT SAINT MARY'S, W 10-7):

• The first quarter was jam-packed with action. The teams traded goals, with La Salle getting out to a slight edge thanks to Bonet Saez, who scored the game's first three goals. Kolovou added one more to give the Explorers a 4-3 at the conclusion of the period.
• Mount Saint Mary's tied things up to start the second quarter. Bonet Saez and Co' scored one a piece to build a 6-4 lead before The Mount scored one again to put the tally at 6-5, La Salle at halftime.
• The Explorers finally broke things open in the third quarter, outscoring the Mountaineers 3-1 in the frame. Bonet Saez, Casey Malone, and Co' all scored to help the team get out to a 9-6 lead.
• Kolovou added one more for good measure in the fourth to secure the win for the Explorers.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (VILLANOVA, W 9-8):

• La Salle exploded out of the gate, winning the first period by a score of 3-0. Co', Bonet-Saez, and Hannah Woren scored for the Explorers.
• The second frame featured six total goals, with Villanova scoring four. Kolovou and Tatum Lomax scored for La Salle. The Wildcats cut deep into La Salle's lead to put the score at 5-4 going into the half.
• The second half began with an Explorers' goal from Malone, Villanova answered with a goal of its own. The two sides repeated the exchange once more, with Kolovou adding another to send La Salle into the fourth up 7-6.
• Kolovou scored once more for the hat trick to begin the final stanza, but Villanova again returned fire. Bonet Saez scored what turned out to be the game-winner with 4:45 remaining, putting La Salle up 9-7. The Wildcats scored again with 1:42 left, but it was too little, too late.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (No. 18 WAGNER, L 12-4):

• Wagner scored the first five goals of the game. Malone got the Explorers on the board with a goal with 40 seconds left in the period.  
• Carlotta Zandali netted the lone goal of the second quarter for La Salle sandwiched by a pair of Seahawk goals. Wagner took a 7-2 lead into halftime.
• Co' opened the third with a goal, but the comeback effort was stopped by three Wagner goals.
• Wagner scored opened the final period with two scores. Whitney Wood scored with 1:30 remaining to put the final tally at 12-4

 
UP NEXT:

• The Explorers will take their 6-3 record up the road to Princeton for the Princeton Invitational next weekend.
• The squad will play only two matches, with No. 22 San Diego State on Friday at 6:30 pm and a rematch with No. 19 Harvard at 9:30 am. La Salle fell to Harvard off a late goal earlier in the season.