Staten Island, NY - The Iona College women's water polo team broke their single-season record for wins drawing a split on Sunday. The Gaels (21-12, 7-3 MAAC) fell to Marist 16-10, but rebounded and claimed regular season win number 21 with a 15-7 defeat of Villanova.

Head Coach Brian Kelly called it "just a bad game" as Iona trailed the Red Foxes (25-7, 10-0 MAAC) all game. Marist held a 6-2 lead after the first quarter and a 10-4 advantage at the half. Iona was able to pull within three goals at one point, but missed a couple of penalty shots and couldn't get any closer falling 16-10. Co-captain Lauren Peterson netted four goals in the opener, handed out three assists and had a steal. Maggie Wood had a hat-trick, three kickouts drawn and Amanda Brucia had a goal, an assist, four kickouts drawn and two steals. Co-captain Alicia Keating and Amanda Cody each added a goal and GK Kathleen Link had 12 saves in the loss.

The Gaels didn't flinch in the afternoon contest against Villanova and took a 5-1 lead after the first quarter. The lead was 9-4 at the half and the Wildcats (3-24, 0-10 MAAC) pulled within three goals, but Iona had a 5-0 fourth quarter to take home a 15-7 win in the regular season finale. The win was the Gaels' 21st of the season, a new regular season record. Wood had five goals and two kickouts drawn and Brucia netted a hat-trick and handed out four assists. Meghan Keller scored four goals, Cody scored one, Amanda Anastasio drew a kickout and Stephanie Klocke had two steals. Link added another twelve saves to her strong afternoon. Peterson, who already has set many single-season records, scored twice against Villanova to finish the regular season with 92 goals, five goals shy of Brucia's single-season record of 97 goals.

Iona will be the number two seed in next weekend's MAAC Women's Water Polo Championships, hosted by Marist in Poughkeepsie. The championships are April 26th and 27th.