La Salle Splits Games against Bucknell and Mercyhurst To Start the Season

Women’s Water Polo | January 29, 2022

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The La Salle women’s water polo team dropped its first contest against Bucknell on Saturday, 10-9, but quickly bounced back to dominate the game against Mercyhurst, 22-3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (BUCKNELL):

• Kalista Hyham won the sprint to give the Explorers possession to start the game. After a series of missed shots by both teams, Madison Martinez put La Salle on the board for the first goal of game just before the end of the first period.
• Bucknell got the first goal of the second period. The Explorers and Bison traded three goals apiece to tie the contest, 4-4. Casey Malone drew the attention of the official and got the exclusion to give the Bison a man-up advantage. Bucknell capitalized with a man-up goal followed by an even strength goal to take the 6-4 lead over La Salle heading into the third period.
• The Explorers held the 2-1 advantage to start the third period to come within one point of the lead, 7-6. Both teams added three more in the period, but it was the Bison who held the ultimate advantage to claim the 10-9 victory over La Salle.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (BUCKNELL):

• Hyham led the morning for the Explorers with a team-high four goals while Sophie Appler contributed three.
• Malone, Martine and Madelyn Koerper earned one goal apiece.
• Martinez lent a helping hand on a team-high four goals.
• Appler led the defensive effort for La Salle with three steals.
• Emma Gurasich protected the net making eight saves on 19 shots faced.

HOW IT HAPPENED (MERCYHURST):

• Mia Mattingly lost the battle for the ball to give Mercyhurst possession to start. Sarah Defusco connected with Martinez at the 6:28 mark to put La Salle on the board early, 1-0. The Explorers finished the period on a 7-0 run to go up 8-0 with Gurasich not allowing a single goal.
• The Explorers continued to hold the Lakers scoreless recording four goals of their own in the second period.
• Martinez found Appler just 45 seconds into the third period before La Salle allowed its first goal of the game. The Explorers went on to score nine more while holding the Lakers to just two to take the 22-3 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (MERCYHURST):

• Hyham led the offensive effort again for the Explorers with a team-high four goals.
• Kendra Schlitzer, Jaycee Morris, Sophia Boettner, Martinez, Appler and Koerper all contributed two goals each while Charley Stricker, Francesca Co’, Hannah Woren, Tatum Lomax and Defusco added one apiece.
• All freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the contest with all three scoring at least one goal.
• Koerper, Co’ and Gurasich recorded three assists each.
• Karle Linden led the defensive effort with a team-high three steals.
• Caitlin Valentine saw action in net for the first time this season in the game. Valentine and Gurasich shared the goaltending duties and made 10 saves each.
• The Explorers held the Lakers to just 19 shots and forced nine exclusions.