VILLANOVA, PA - The Iona College women's water polo team clinched its second consecutive MAAC regular season championship Sunday with a pair of wins in games at the Villanova Swim Center.  In game one, the Gaels outscored VMI by a margin of 22-7 before defeating Wagner 11-10 in sudden death overtime as the Gaels finished the regular season with 11 straight wins.

In the win over VMi, everyone Iona field player found the net at least once.  Senior Cecilia Leonard contributed four goals and one assist while senior Mackenzie Mone, junior Alyssa Turza and sophomore Hannah Cross each scored three times for the Gaels.  Turza was also credited with two assists while Cross had one assist of her own.  Sophomore Sarah Hanly scored twice for the Gaels, while also contributing one assist and six steals.  Freshman Katie Stelnicki scored once for the Maroon and Gold, while leading the defense with eight steals in the contest.  Sophomore Amy Olsen had one goal, two assists, two steals and three kickouts drawn in the game.  Freshmen Monica Stiles and Ashley DeMarzo each had one goal and one assist while senior Caitlin McGregor, sophomore Georgina Lee and Erika Lauraitis scored once for the Gaels.  Lee also picked up one assist and one kickout drawn in the game while Lauraitis was credited with three steals.

In net, sophomore Marisa Gaynor made seven saves in the first haAgainstlf while freshman Devin Green made five saves in second half duty.

Against Wagner, Iona got the game winning goal with 1:30 left in the sudden death period.  Lee drew a five-meter penalty shot on a breakaway attempt.  Leonard was able to convert the penalty shot and propel the Gaels to the one goal win.

Lauraitis scored four goals for the Gaels, adding one assist and two steals in the game.  Leonard score two goals, had one assist and drew two kickouts.  Turza scored twice for the Gaels while Olsen, Mone and Stelnicki each scored once.  Olsen had one assist and two kickouts drawn while McGregor had one assist.  Gaynor had nine saves and five steals in net.

The Gaels will begin the chase to a second MAAC Championship on Saturday, April 28 in the semifinal round of the 2012 MAAC Championship at McCann Natatorium, on the campus of Marist College.