PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Villanova water polo team opened MAAC play with a 14-13 win over La Salle at the Kirk Center Wednesday night.
The 'Cats (14-7, 1-0 MAAC) have now won seven of their last eight games, scoring 10-plus goals in each of those seven wins.
Layla Canales led the team on the night with four goals, followed by
Anna Painter with three,
Riley Hull and
Ella Mattocks with two while
Sara Withers,
Coco Jones and
Emmie Mallory scored one each.
Withers led the night with four assists. Painter picked up three assists and
Isabel Foley, Jones, Canales and Maguire had one.
Defensively, Villanova had 13 steals on the night, led by Painter and Hull, who both had four. Withers had two steals and the 'Cats were rounded out by Canales, Jones and Foley, who all had one.
Hull drew eight exclusions on the night, bringing her season-total to 73, which put the sophomore alone in fifth place for exclusions drawn in a single season in program history. Hull previously held sixth position in single-season exclusions drawn after drawing 69 in 2025.
Foley and Hull both picked up a field block on the night.
A tightly contested first half saw the 'Cats lead 5-3 after the first quarter and 7-6 at halftime. Canales scored two in the first half.
VU retained the lead in the third quarter as both teams scored three each to make it a 10-9 game heading into the final quarter of action.
An action-heavy fourth quarter began with the Explorers (9-4, 0-1) tying the game at 10-10 early in the quarter, before both teams went back-and-forth for the entirety of the quarter, seeing ties at 11-11, 12-12 and 13-13.
In its final possession of the contest, Villanova found the back of the net with 15 seconds left via Painter's hattrick-sealing goal. With La Salle needing a goal to force overtime, Withers picked up a game-sealing steal and swam out the clock.
Gracin Kerry started all four quarters in net, saving 12 in 25 attempts. Kerry also picked up an assist on the night.
Up Next
Villanova continues MAAC conference play Saturday and Sunday at the Villanova Swim Complex versus No. 20 Wagner and LIU. VU's contest against LIU Sunday will be the team's senior day.
