Women's Water Polo | February 9, 2024

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Explorers water polo team (3-2) will head to its second-weekend tournament of the season at the Bucknell Invitational. The squad will play in four games, facing Mercyhurst and Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, with Villanova and No. 18 Wagner on Sunday. The Sunday matchups against Villanova and Wagner will stream on the Bucknell Athletics YouTube channel.
 
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SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS:

• La Salle split its four games last weekend, with both defeats coming at the hands of ranked opponents including a loss against No. 18 Harvard with two seconds left on the clock.
• The Explorers took down Saint Francis (Pa.) 9-7 and Austin College, 13-6.
• Francesca Co' scored 12 goals to lead the Explorers. She is tied for third in the MAAC in goals with 18.
• Senior captain Hannah Woren has proven herself as one of the best passers in the conference. She is tied for second in assists (nine).
• Freshman goalkeeper Lily Kirby is ranked second in saves (42).

 
SCOUTING MERCYHURST:
 

• Mercyhurst has gotten off to a less than ideal start to the 2024 season, with an 0-8 record.
• The Lakers and Explorers already met once this season in the season-opener for both schools on January 26. La Salle took that matchup, 18-9 with Francesca Co' pacing the squad with six goals.
• The contest will begin on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 11:40 a.m.

SCOUTING MOUNT ST. MARY'S:

• Mount St. Mary's comes into the weekend with a 5-1 record, with the lone loss coming on the road at Villanova, 12-11.
• The Mount has won five straight games, with the most recent game consisting of an 11-8 win vs Mercyhurst. The team went 4-0 at the VMI Weekend tournament.
• The two sides met on April 7^th last season. Mount St. Mary's won that game, but La Salle won the two contests prior to that.
• The match will begin on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2:20 p.m.

 
SCOUTING VILLANOVA:

• Villanova has gotten off to an impressive 8-1 start to the season. The Wildcats swept the first two weekend tournaments to start the year.
• The team took its first loss of the season at No. 8 Princeton, 18-7 on Tuesday.
• The two sides split their two matchups last season, with each match being decided by just one goal. This is the first of three games the two will compete in this season.
• The contest will begin on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 10:20 a.m.

 
SCOUTING #18 WAGNER:

• Wagner is 6-2 on the year, they began the season ranked No. 20 in the CWPA preseason poll. The Seahawks have since risen to #18 after a 4-0 weekend at the Bruno Classic last week.
• Wagner is 2-2 against ranked opponents. The Seahawks defeated No. 18 Harvard and No. 25 Pomona-Pitzer at the Bruno Classic.
• The contest will begin on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 3:40 p.m.