Poughkeepsie, NY - The Iona College Women's Water Polo team kicked-off the 2009 season at the ECAC Championships hosted by Marist as the number 3 seed. The Gaels (1-1) faced Wagner in the opening round and were hurt by peanlities in a 13-9 defeat. Iona earned a split as they defeated Siena 10-6.
A close game throughout, the Gaels held a 2-1 advantage after the first quarter. Wagner (1-1) used one of their two five goal quarters to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. The Seahawks led 6-5 in the third quarter and took control of the game as they outscored the Gaels 7-4 to close out the game. the teams combined for 32 penalties, 22 on the Maroon & Gold.
Co-captain Lauren Peterson led the team with 4 goals and added 2 assists and a kickout drawn. Maggie Wood had a goal, drew four kickouts and had two takeaways. Amanda Cody netted a pair of goals, handed out an assitant, grabbed three steals, drew two kickouts and added a field block. Amanda Anastasio netted a goal and Amanda Brucia rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist. Goalie Kathleen Link had 8 saves with 2 steals. Four Iona starters fouled out of the game: Brucia, Meghan Keller, Mackenzie Mone, and Cecilia Leonard.
In the afteroon contest against the Saints (0-2), Iona came out quick putting four in the twine and held a 5-2 halftime lead. The Gaels added four more in the third quarter and pair in the final quarter taking a 10-6 win and earning the Saturday split.
Brucia paced the Gaels with 4 goals and a kickout drawn. Wood netted a pair with an assist and a kickout drawn. Mone had a goal, a steal, a kickout drawn and a field block. Leonard scored a hat trick and added an assist, a steal and a pair of kickouts drawn. Peterson handed out 3 assists. Link had 10 saves and a steal in the win.
Iona will take on No. 5 St. Francis (NY) in the fifth place game at 10:30 am.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Iona 2 2 3 2 9
Wagner 1 5 5 2 13
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Iona 4 1 3 2 10
Siena 2 1 2 1 6
