Philadelphia, PA – The fourth-seeded La Salle women's water polo team (14-6, 5-3 MAAC) travels to top-seeded, nationally ranked No. 18 Marist to face the Red Foxes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals at McCann Natatorium on Saturday, April 11, at 4 p.m.
What's At Stake
The Explorers are trying to reach their first-ever MAAC championship game since the program's inception in 2017.
In head coach Jason Grubb's first full stint at the helm, La Salle has won 70% of its games during the 2026 campaign, which is currently the best win percentage during a single season in program history.
The Rookie
Freshman attacker Nadya Azzopardi emerged as one of the top rookies in the conference this season. Azzopardi leads La Salle in goals (53), points (78), and shot percentage (53%) while ranking third on the team in assists (25).
In 17 games this season, Azzopardi recorded nine hat tricks and tallied at least five points in nine different games.
Azzopardi also tallied at least two goals in all eight MAAC games this season, averaging 3.3 goals and 1.5 assists per game during league play.
Earlier this season, Azzopardi earned MAAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on March 25 and was also named MAAC Rookie of the Week twice (March 25 and April 1).
On March 21 against Mount St. Mary's, Azzopardi erupted for eight goals to break the program's single-game goals record, leading the Explorers to a 12-5 victory.
Veteran Leadership
Junior attacker Martina Bonet Saez has continued her stellar play in her third season with the program. She was named to the 2026 Preseason All-MAAC Team, following her first-team All-MAAC selection as a sophomore in 2025.
After missing the first four games of the season with an injury, Bonet Saez played 16 games, recording 34 goals and 28 assists. She is tied for the team-high with 32 steals and led the team with seven blocks.
In MAAC play, Bonet Saez tallied 16 goals, 18 assists, and 19 steals, averaging 2.0 goals, 2.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
Bonet Saez continues to climb in the program's all-time career record book, ranking tied for second in steals (137), fifth in goals (159), seventh in points (242), and 10th in assists (83).
Kirby Nears Program Record For Career Saves
Junior goalkeeper Lily Kirby enters the game against Marist with 629 career saves, needing nine to pass Emma Gurasich for the most in program history.
In the 11-8 win against Siena on March 29, Kirby broke her own single-game program record (set earlier in the season) with a spectacular 20-save performance, anchoring the Explorers defensively against the Saints to help La Salle punch its ticket for the playoffs.
In 17 games this season, Kirby has made 199 saves, averaging 11.7 saves per game. She also recorded at least 15 saves in four different games.
Kirby was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks this season. (March 25 and April 1).
Key Addition
After transferring to La Salle in the offseason, junior center Samara Eschleman ranks second on the team with 46 goals and has scored on 47% of her shot attempts.
Eschleman recorded 10 hat tricks in 18 games this season, including a season-high five goals in the win against Siena, where she recorded her 150th career goal.
In eight MAAC games, Eschleman tallied 21 goals.
Durham's Defense
Senior center defender Claire Durham has played in all 18 games and is tied for the team lead with 32 steals and leads the team with 14 kick-outs drawn. She has also netted 13 goals with 14 assists during the 2026 season.
Smith Nears Career/Season Milestones
Senior attacker Grace Smith has recorded 17 goals and a team-high 29 assists during the 2026 season.
Smith ranks eighth in program history with 96 assists and is 10th all-time with 160 points. She needs four assists to reach 100 in her career and four points to reach 50 on the season.
McCulloch Makes An Impact
Freshman attacker Claire McCulloch has played in all 18 games for La Salle, tallying 22 goals and 21 assists during her rookie season.
Seniors Enjoying Success
La Salle's six seniors (Claire Durham, Allie Hollo, Paige Mitchell, Grace Smith, Ella Tice, and Whitney Wood) have tallied 58 total victories in their four seasons at 20th and Olney, which ranks third all-time in team history for a single class.
Together, they have combined for 447 points (206 goals and 241 assists), including 63 goals and 79 assists this season.
Last Meeting Vs. Marist
On March 28, Marist earned a 9-3 win against La Salle in Lexington, Virginia.
La Salle held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter before Marist responded with five unanswered goals in the second quarter. La Salle cut the deficit to 7-3 at the end of the third quarter but couldn't draw any closer.
The Red Foxes registered 31 shots in the game while the Explorers had 30.
Azzopardi led La Salle with two goals, while Eschleman and Kirby tallied a team-high four steals. Kirby also made 11 saves in the game.
Smith tallied the Explorers' other goal in the contest.
In 16 all-time meetings, the Explorers' lone win against the Red Foxes was a forfeit victory on April 23, 2021. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by four goals or fewer.
Scouting The Red Foxes
Marist enters the postseason as the MAAC regular-season champion after a 24-5 overall campaign and a perfect 8-0 run in conference play. As of April 9, the Red Foxes are ranked No. 18 nationally in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Top 25.
The Red Foxes carried a 12-game win streak before an 11-9 setback to No. 12 Princeton on April 2.
