LEWISBURG, PA - The seventh seeded Iona College women's water polo team picked up a couple of program firsts Saturday with a pair of victories at the ECAC Championships. In game one, the Gaels upended second seeded Bucknell 16-9. It was the first time the Maroon & Gold defeated the host Bison in program history. In the semifinals, the Gaels won a close 15-14 contest with Harvard to earn a spot in the ECAC finals for the first time in program history.
Against Bucknell in the opener, the Gaels led start to finish after opening up a 7-2 lead after the first quarter. Senior Maggie Wood continued her strong season with a monster game, totaling four goals and picking up an assist. She also drew five kickouts and two steals. Freshman Amy Olsen also had four goals and a pair of steals. Junior Cecilia Leonard had two goals and assisted on four Iona goals. Freshman Erika Lauraitis also had two goals. Sophomore Alyssa Turza had a goal and an assist and drew two kickouts.
A couple of Gaels joined the Iona lineup and paid huge dividends. Junior Mackenzie Mone had two goals, two assists and three steals. Senior Sam Cody had a goal and junior Caitlin McGregor had two assists. In net, senior Kathleen Link made 13 saves and had an assist.
Against Harvard in the semifinals, the Gaels avenged a loss to Harvard in a contest that was tight from the opening swimoff. The game was tied at three after one, tied at nine at half and tied at 12 after three quarters. The Gaels outscored the Crimson 3-2 in the final frame to secure the 15-14 victory.
Wood had another four goal game, coupled with two assists and four steals. Mone had four goals before majoring out. Turza had three goals, including the game winner, and a steal while Olsen had two goals and three assists. Cody had a goal and Leonard picked up an assist while battling foul trouble throughout the contest.
Link had ten saves, including saves on three penalty shots. She padded her defensive resume with three steals.
The Gaels compete for the ECAC Championship Sunday against fifth seeded Maryland at 2:30 pm.
