LA VERNE, Calif. — Stephanie Rosero scored seven goals, Guarina Garcia had five and the University of La Verne women's water polo team defeated St. Francis (N.Y.), 18-8 on Sunday morning at La Verne Aquatics Center.

La Verne improves to 6-2 on the season. St. Francis drops to 3-13.

The Leopards outscored the Terriers, 11-3, in the second half and the three goals by St. Francis came with the game well in hand.

Rosero, one of La Verne's top newcomers who broke out with a 13-goal showing at the 2016 Claremont Convergence, kept her hot streak going with a season-high seven goals. She tucked away four in the fourth quarter alone to seal the game for the Leopards.

St. Francis outscored La Verne, 4-3, in the second quarter to keep within striking distance at half. But the Leopards were able to use their depth to shut out the Terriers in the third, 4-0, to take a 11-5 lead and stretched it out to as much as 10 goals with five minutes to go in the game.

Catie Tuning notched a hat trick and Katie Stelnicki added two goals for the Leopards.

The Leopards went 3-2 this weekend against four upper-division schools and Redlands, whom La Verne hadn't beaten in over 10 years.

"It was a good weekend and we've only been together with this group for seven weeks," La Verne head coach William Rodriguez said. "I am extremely happy we were able to hang with Division I opponents, especially against UC San Diego who has been to NCAA National Championship game. We are getting better every day."

The Leopards will play their sixth game in four days when it hosts Penn St.-Behrend tomorrow at 4 p.m. and Rodriguez says the stretch will prepare the Leopards for postseason tournaments. "What we are looking to get out of this run is being able to play and execute while we are tired," Rodriguez said. "When we get to the SCIAC Championships or NCAA Championships, the athletes will have to perform at their peak day after day, and I think this is a great preparation for that."