LORETTO, PA. – The Red Flash Water Polo team will look to bounce back and get into the win column as they travel north to face teams such as La Salle, Wagner, Pomona Pitzer, and Santa Clara. This will be the first road trip during the 2023 season for the Red Flash as each of the contests will be featured on ESPN+ over the two-day weekend series.
Location: Blodgett Pool (Cambridge, MA.)
Game 1: Saint Francis vs. La Salle
Date and Time: Saturday, February 4th – 11:20 a.m.
How to Watch: https://es.pn/3YigZza
Game 2: Saint Francis vs. #14 Wagner
Date and Time: Saturday, February 4th – 2:50 p.m.
How to Watch: https://es.pn/3JWevTl
Game 3: Saint Francis vs. Pomona-Pitzer
Date and Time: Sunday, February 5th – 8:00 a.m.
How to Watch: https://es.pn/3jBe7P3
Game 4: Saint Francis vs. Santa Clara
Date and Time: Sunday, February 5th – 12:40 p.m.
How to Watch: https://es.pn/3YkTh5d
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SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS
This weekend will be the first games for La Salle in the 2023 season as they finished last year with a strong 22-15 season and 9-7 record in the MAAC. The Explorers are returning a few key seniors on this years squad including preseason MAAC Goalkeeper of the year Emma Gurasich. Gurasich had 40 assists and 66 steals in her junior campaign. Next, is Shanna Zuanich who led the team in overall points with 111 and also 50 goals with 61 assists.
These two teams faced off at the beginning of last season with the Explorers coming out with the victory in a close contest, 8-6.
Emese Szucs and
Addison Williams led the Red Flash with two goals in the game and Szucs also led the team in steals with seven.
SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
The Red Flash will face off against a familiar foe being the Wagner Seahawks. The Seahawks have already played nine games this year and own a 7-2 record with their only two losses being against ranked UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Last season, Wagner had an impressive 35-4 record and a whopping 16-0 mark in their conference. The Seahawks are returning two of their top scorers being Malia Josephson and Abbey Simshauser who combined for 166 goals last season.
The last time these two teams played each other was last March when the Seahawks came out on top by a score of 17-6. The Red Flash were led by
Taylor Halbauer who had three goals and goalie
Isabel Lumley had 10 saves to lead Saint Francis in that matchup.
SCOUTING THE SAGEHENS
Saint Francis will go up against Pomona-Pitzer for the first time since 2020 when they play on Sunday morning. The Sagehens own a 2-2 record so far this year with their two losses coming against San Diego State and UC San Diego. Pomona-Pitzer is a Division III classification school but they play most of their nonconference opponents at the Division I level as they are recognized as the number one water polo team in the country at the Division III level.
The last time these schools met then freshmen
Taylor Halbauer and
Addison Williams combined for five goals to lead the Red Flash even though they fell short by a score of 12-9.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Just like the Red Flash, UC Santa Clara has only played one game this season being a loss to Cal State Monterey Bay by a score of 11-10. The Broncos are led by attackers Kate Rodman and Elle Fredrickson who combined for seven goals in the game against Monterey Bay last weekend. In net, it was split time for goalies Georgia Lewis who allowed two goals and Liyara Senadheera who allowed nine goals agaisnt Monterey Bay.
The last time these two teams was back in 2020 as the Broncos escaped with a 13-7 win over the Red Flash.
Addison Williams netted four goals as a freshman with Halbauer right behind her with two of her own.
THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis comes into this weekend series after falling to Mount St. Mary's 14-12 in the season opener at Stokes Natatorium.
Emese Szucs was the top performer for the Red Flash as she scored a game-high six goals.
Taylor Halbauer and
Kayla Rhoads netted two goals a piece for Saint Francis as they tried to keep pace with the Mountaineers.
Isabel Lumley secured 15 saves for Saint Francis as she begins her sophomore campaign in net.
