PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Iona College women's water polo team completed an undefeated Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate and extended their winning streak to eleven in a row with a pair of victories Saturday at Villanova. In game one, the Gaels defeated Wagner 11-6 before outscoring Siena 16-8 in game two.
Against Wagner, senior
Kathleen Link set a new single game record with 20 saves, eclipsing the former mark of 19 set by
Jenny Shoemaker. Shoemaker stopped 19 shots in a 2001 contest with Harvard. Link also assisted on two Iona goals.
On offense, senior
Maggie Wood had six goals and one assist to go along with four steals and four kickouts drawn. Freshman
Amy Olsen had three goals and one kickout drawn while sophomore
Lauren Scheetz had one goal. Sophomore
Alyssa Turza added the final Iona goal and drew one kickout. Junior
Cecilia Leonard had two assists, one steal and one field block. Junior
Mackenzie Mone had three steals and one assist.
"Another hard fought victory against a tough veteran Wagner squad," said head
Brian Kelly. "Link was tremendous in net and she was the difference. Leonard also did a tremendous job against their two meter (Lauren) French, who's as good as any two meter player in the East and Wood had another dominant performance on offense."
In game two, Turza had a team high five goals along with one steal, one kickout drawn and one field block. Senior
Sam Cody played one of her finest games in Maroon & Gold, scoring five times, picking up one steal and drawing one kickout. Wood had three goals, one assist and three kickouts drawn. Leonard had two assists, three steals and two kickouts drawn. Junior
Caitlin McGregor had two goals and a pair of steals. Mone had one goal, three assists, four steals and one kickout drawn. Scheetz had one assist while Link had nine saves and two assists in net.
"Our speedsters set the tone in this one as Cody and McGregor had their best offensive days of the season," commented Kelly. "Sam definitely had the best offensive game of her Ione career. Turza was a force in the two meter and is playing outstanding polo right now."
The Gaels, seeded first, will take on fourth-seeded St. Francis (NY) Saturday in the semifinals of the 2011 MAAC Championships, hosted by Marist at the McCann Natatorium.
