VILLANOVA, Pa. – Women's Water Polo makes their first trip to the campus of La Salle University since dropping a heartbreaking 9-8 loss to end their historic 2024 campaign.
WILDCAT REWIND
Last weekend, the Wildcats opened MAAC conference play at the VMI-MAAC Showcase, hosted by Virginia Military Institute.
They went 2-1, including 38 total goals across their final two games on Sunday.
Rachel Stephens started all three games between the pipes for VU, recording her first career win in the Wildcat's 18-14 win over Siena on Sunday morning.
Also, against the Saints,
Sara Withers became the seventh player in program history to reach 100 career assists, doing so only midway through her junior season.
MAAC HONORS
Riley Hull earned MAAC Rookie of the Week for her performance at the VMI-MAAC Showcase.
Hull recorded 13 goals, including two five-goal performances in a row in the first two games of the series against Mount St. Mary's and Siena.
In the 18-14 win against the Saints, she also added five exclusions, creating several opportunities for the 'Cats to reset their offense.
To wrap up the weekend, she recorded her third hat trick of the weekend against the host team in VMI, as Villanova cruised to a 20-10 win.
SEEKING OUT THE SHARKS
Long Island University is 11-9 on the year and 2-1 in MAAC play thus far. They won two of their three games at the VMI-MAAC Showcase last weekend, defeating Siena and Iona but falling to Marist in a close matchup, 13-12.
Freshman Greta Tadday had 12 goals across the Sharks first two games in Lexington, while senior Sydney DeVroedt led the Brooklyn, N.Y. based squad, totaling 16. Those two combined for 57.1% of LIU's goals at the event.
Villanova is winless across six contests against Long Island.
WAY MORE ON WAGNER
The Seahawks are 11-6 this season and swept their three matches at the VMI-MAAC Showcase.
Wagner is 4-2 in ranked matches this season, including wins over then No. 14 Indiana and No. 16 Michigan in the same weekend at the Midwest Invite.
Senior attacker Carlota Alonso earned her third MAAC Offensive Player of the Week award of the season after scoring 10 goals this past weekend.
On March 21, Alonso was named to the Cutino Award Watch List, the award for the best player in men's and women's collegiate water polo.
Alonso and Wagner goalie Francesca Sena were named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and Co-Goalie of the Year in January based on their performances from stellar past seasons.
LOOKING AT LA SALLE
La Salle has entered this weekend 9-11 so far, including two MAAC wins.
They defeated Mount St. Mary's in overtime, a team who was able to outlast Villanova last Saturday at the VMI-MAAC Showcase.
The interim head coach at La Salle is former Villanova head coach Jason Grubb. He went 16-18 and coached 2016 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Julie Conrath in her senior season.
Villanova is 6-9 against the Explorers in program history, notching their last win in March 2023.
FAST FACTS
Michael Gordon looks for his first win against each of these three teams this weekend.
Sara Withers and
Amelia Baca notched hat tricks in Kirk Pool last year against Wagner and La Salle, respectively.
UP NEXT
After this weekend, Villanova will host a weekend of conference play on April 5 and 6, with Marist, Iona, and La Salle coming to The Main Line. Senior Day will take place on April 5 at 7:00 P.M. against the Iona Gaels. The four seniors,
Amelia Baca,
Emma Grabenstetter,
Adrienne Grimes, and
Emily McKenzie, will be honored for their time with the program.
SOCIAL
For all the latest updates surrounding the program, follow Villanova Water Polo on Instagram @novawaterpolo and X (formerly Twitter) @nova_waterpolo.
