VILLANOVA, Pa. – Women's Water Polo closed out their home MAAC Weekend by defeating La Salle by a score of 11-5. This was their second consecutive defeat of the Explorers and third in their last four meetings.
Anna Painter tallied her second five-goal game of the season and four plus goal performance of the weekend, as she matched La Salle's goal total in the contest. Layla Canales also tallied three goals for Villanova.
Villanova started out quickly, scoring five of the first six goals, forcing a quick La Salle timeout.
Riley Hull got things started for VU, scoring just 21 seconds into the game. Canales, Painter, and Sara Withers combined for the next four before the stoppage with one minute remaining.
The Explorers were able to convert after the timeout and went on a 3-0 run over the next 6:16, cutting the deficit to just one, at 5-4, in favor of Villanova.
Painter notched her second of the day, and Lauren Short added one of her own to help the Wildcats enter intermission up 7-4.
La Salle scored with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter, keeping the game close as the scoreboard in the Villanova Swim Complex read 7-5, with 13 minutes remaining.
In the final 13:22 of competition, Gracin Kerry did not allow a goal while recording seven of her 11 saves on the day, thwarting a comeback by the opposition.
Villanova scored four more times, three of those coming from Painter, and one for good measure from Canales to secure the victory.
Hull dished out three assists in addition to her goal, giving her four points on the day. She was able to capture all four opening sprints with ease for the Wildcats as well.
FAST FACTS
This is the first time that the Wildcats have swept La Salle since 2018.
Kerry and the Villanova defense tied their second fewest number of goals given up this season with five. They also did that against Iona on January 25.
Kerry came into the weekend with 435 career saves, and with her 35 this weekend, she now ranks fourth all-time in program history with 470.
Michael Gordon is 18-1 at home in his career and 10-0 on the season, with his only loss coming to La Salle last season. He currently holds second place for home wins in a career and is four wins behind Allyson Gillespie for most in the tenure of a VUWP head coach.
Gordon is one of seven head coaches who competed in Division I competition in 2025 that are undefeated at home (min. 3 games). The others are Austin, Bucknell, McKendree, UCLA, Stanford, and USC. However, Gordon is the only coach with more than six victories while remaining unbeaten.
Their ten home wins this season break a record for most in a season; the former mark was eight, set in 2000 and matched in 2024.
UP NEXT
Villanova will travel up to New York next weekend to close out the regular season. They will play against Wagner and at LIU in Brooklyn on April 12 and face off against the VMI Keydets to finish up conference play on April 13 on Wagner's campus.
SOCIAL
For all the latest updates surrounding the program, follow Villanova Water Polo on Instagram @novawaterpolo and X (formerly Twitter) @nova_waterpolo.
