ANN ARBOR, MI - The Iona College women's water polo team split a pair of contests on the first day of play at the Wolverine Invitational. The Gaels opened up play with a 14-7 loss to the host Michigan team but came back in the second to take a dominating 17-8 win over Mercyhurst.

Against the Woverines, the Gaels were unable to keep up with the Michigan offense, trailing 3-1 after the first quarter and unable to come back from the deficit. Reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Maggie Wood picked up two goals for Iona, while sophomore Cecilia Leonard also had a pair of goals. Sophomore Mackenzie Mone and freshmen Lauren Scheetz and Alyssa Turza also had goals for the Gaels.

In net, junior Kathleen Link had seven saves.

In the afternoon, the Gaels picked up their second win over the Lakers in consecutive weekends after defeating the squad 17-14 last week at the Siena Invite. Mone led the Gaels with a monster game, scoring seven goals and picking up five steals on the defensive side.

Wood had five points (4g, 1a) while drawing one kickout and picking up one steal. Leonard had two goals and three assists with a kickout drawn and a field block. Turza had two goals for Iona and drew a kickout. Junior Sam Cody picked up her first tally of 2010, while sophomore Caitlin McGregor had the final Iona tally.

Link had 10 saves in three-plus quarters of play while freshman Juliana Kiesselbach stopped all three shots she faced in the fourth quarter.

The Gaels play a pair of contests tomorrow, starting with Grove City at 8:30 am.