Report Courtesy of Dr. Jack BreslinREDLANDS, CA – Avenging an early-season road loss, the Iona College women's water polo team defeated George Washington University 20-17 Friday morning in its opening match of the Lancer Invite at the University of Redlands.
The Gaels' co-captains led the way with senior
Alyssa Turza hitting six goals, and junior
Amy Olsen netted five scores, dished out two assists and drew six opponent kickouts. Junior
Erika Lauraitis continued her Southern California road-trip scoring streak with four goals, along with an assist and three steals.
Turza scored first for Iona with 7:36 gone in the first period, but the Colonials (10-9) tied the game eight seconds later. Turza only took 17 seconds to net her second score, but George Washington knotted the score at two each with 6:35 remaining in the period.
Lauraitis gave the Gaels the lead for good 25 seconds later. Olsen and Cross hit goals to give Iona a 5-3 lead going into the second period.
Iona scored eight goals in the second frame with Matthews' goal pushing the Gael edge to 13-8 with 51 seconds to intermission. The pesky Colonials hit six second-quarter scores, including a last-second goal that trimmed the Iona halftime lead to 13-9.
George Washington outscored Iona 6-4 in the third quarter with three unanswered goals in the closing two minutes to pull within two 17-15 to start the final period.
Two Olsen goals and another from Hanly in the fourth quarter, along with a strong defensive effort, stalled the Colonials comeback for the win.
Iona had lost 13-10 to George Washington on February 24 at the CWPA/MAAC Crossover at Villanova University.
With two wins and one loss on their eight-match Spring Break road trip in Southern California, the Gaels take on Azusa Pacific University here today at 7:30 p.m. EST in their second Lancer Invite contest.
