THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: La Salle 13, Gannon 8
Records: Gannon (0-1) | La Salle (2-1)
Location: Kirk Pool | Philadelphia, Pa.
The Short Story: The Gannon women's water polo team battled back twice in a wild first quarter, but La Salle pulled away in the second half to secure the win as the Golden Knights kicked off their 2021 season Saturday evening.
GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Two goals in the first two-plus minutes put La Salle up early, but scores from Beatrice Popescu (Bucharest, Romania/Railway Tech) and Mary Trese Squeglia (Erie, Pa./) in just 33 seconds tied things up. The Explorers again went up by two, but Popescu scored again and Campbell Ruh (Walnut, Calif./Lutheran High School of Orange County) beat the clock to tie it up at 4-4 at the end of the first frame.
- La Salle scored the only two goals of the second quarter to take the halftime lead, and added the first of the third quarter to go up 7-4. Squeglia netted her second to make it a two-goal game once again, but the Explorers popped in two more to end the third.
- Ruh scored her second of the game to kick off the fourth and get the Knights back to within 9-6. The hosts would net the next three through, as Julia Kreidinger (Erie, Pa./Villia Maria) and Nicole Wiemken (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon) scored late for the Knights.
GAME NOTES
- The Golden Knights were back in the pool for the first time in 378 days since its 2020 season came to an early halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Ruh, Popescu and Squeglia each netted two goals. Wiemken posted a game-high three assists to go with her goal for four total points.
- Gannon held close to La Salle in shots, putting up 28 to the Explorers' 30.
UP NEXT
- Gannon wraps up its opening weekend with a pair of games Sunday at Villanova, taking on Virginia Military at 10 a.m., followed by the host Wildcats at 2 p.m.
