POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist water polo team defeated the La Salle Explorers 12-11 in a sudden victory overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon in the MAAC Championship Semifinals.
Marist battled back after being down two goals at the end of the third quarter to tie the game at nine by the end of regulation. La Salle gained a 2-1 advantage in overtime, and with the clock ticking down on the Red Foxes season,
Lauren Smith came through to tie the game with just nine seconds left in the game to force a sudden death overtime period.
Less than a minute into the sudden victory overtime period,
Shinae Carrington found the back of the net on a powerplay to send the Red Foxes to the MAAC Championship game.
- Sarah DeFusco struck first for the Explorers as she found the back of the net just two minutes into the game to put La Salle in front 1-0.
- Marist answered with a 3-0 run that spanned across the rest of the first quarter thanks to goals from Kathryn McCullough, Justine Castro, and Carrington. The Red Foxes led 3-1 heading into the second quarter.
- That lead would not last, as the Explorers rallied with a 3-0 run in the second quarter to re-take a 4-3 lead.
- Castro scored her second goal of the game with 20 seconds left in the first half to tie the game at 4-4 and send the two teams to the locker room tied.
- Viktoria Orlova scored the first goal of the second half at the 6:01 mark, putting Marist in front 5-4, however, DeFusco caught fire for La Salle and scored three straight goals to give the Explorers a 7-5 advantage.
- Marist battled back in the beginning of the fourth quarter and eventually fought to take a 9-8 lead with 3:40 left to play thanks to another Castro goal.
- Madison Martinez scored a goal for La Salle with seven seconds remaining in the game to force overtime.
- The Explorers gained a 2-1 edge in OT, but with nine second left in the game with the Red Foxes' season on the line Lauren Smith was able to find the back of the net and force a sudden victory overtime period.
- It was then that Carrington scored the game winning goal for the Red Foxes 50 seconds into the period to send Marist to the Championship game.
- Playing against a La Salle team in which her father is the Head Coach, Marina Hyham made four saves, including a massive one in overtime, to help propel Marist to the win.
- Castro and Orlova each had a team-high three goals for the Red Foxes. Castro also had two assists for a team-high five points.
- India Alter, Carrington, and Orlova each had two drawn excursions to lead Marist.
- Myriam Lizotte had a game-high two steals.
- Fallon Brunworth tied for the team-lead with two assists.
- DeFusco had a game-high five goals for La Salle.
- Marist was just 2-7 on the powerplay, while the Explorers were 3-4.
- Marist improves to 7-0 on the season with the win.
- La Salle drops to 11-4 with the loss.
- This will be the seventh straight MAAC Championship game appearance for the Red Foxes.
- Marist is now 7-0 all-time against La Salle.
- This is the first time the Red Foxes and the Explorers have played in the postseason, and Marist is now 1-0 in those games.
The Red Foxes will take on the VMI Keydets in the MAAC Championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. at McCann Natatorium. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3 withy Geoff Brault and Brandon Ross on the call. Live stats will be available via the FOSH.
