CAMBRIDGE, MA - The Iona College women's water polo team split the first two of four matchups at the CWPA/MAAC Crossover Saturday afternoon at Harvard University. In the opener, the Gaels topped George Washington 11-6, its second win over the Colonials in 13 days. In the second game of the day, the Gaels fell to Bucknell 9-7.
With mixed feelings about splitting the day's matches, Iona head coach Brian Kelly saw positive and negative aspects to his squad's performance.
“Our defense played great in the first game, and applied a lot of pressure, and so we had a solid victory over George Washington,” said Kelly. “We didn't apply much pressure at all in the first three periods to Bucknell, we played poorly and gave them solid looks all over the pool.”
Against George Washington, senior Amy Olsen led the Gaels with five goals while senior Erika Lauraitis tallied three. Seniors Sarah Hanly, sophomore Meghan Mahoney, and sophomore Rebecca Matthews added one goal each. Senior goalie Marisa Gaynor recorded eleven saves. Lauraitis and junior Katie Stelnicki were disqualified with three ejections.
In the opening minute, Iona took a 2-0 lead on two consecutive goals from Olsen. But the Colonials answered with three straight scores to take a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period. Just 25 seconds into the second quarter, Olsen hit again to tie the score at three. George Washington regained the at lead 4-3 with 2:36 left, before Mahoney found the back of the net for a 4-4 halftime tie.
Despite their seesaw first half, the Gaels took control in the third period by outscoring the Colonials 5-1 on three goals from Lauraitis and single scores by Hanly and Olsen for a 9-5 advantage going into the final period. A George Washington goal with 6:05 left in regulation narrowed the Iona lead to 9-6, but Olsen's fifth goal and one from Matthews assured the victory.
Against the Bison, Olsen led Iona with two goals, while graduate student Allison Peotter, Lauraitis and Hanly and freshman Rebecca Koshy hit one goal each. Gaynor recorded six saves.
Twenty-six seconds into the match, Hanly put Iona on the board, but Bucknell answered with two straight goals for a 2-1 lead with 5:19 left in the first period. Olsen tied the game at two with 3:11 to go. With three ticks left in the opening quarter, Bucknell scored for a 3-2 advantage. Peotter tied the game at three only 29 seconds into the second period, then Bucknell hit four unanswered goals to lead 7-3 at halftime.
In the third period, Bucknell outscored Iona 2-0 for a 9-3 lead going into the final quarter. In the team huddle between quarters, Lauraitis told her teammates, “Come on, ladies, this is our quarter.” The Gaels responded by holding Bucknell scoreless, and chipped away at the Bison lead with goals by Olsen, Lauraitis and Koshy. Olsen's hit her third goal with 24 seconds left as the Gaels pulled with two 9-7, but time ran out on the Iona rally.
Sunday, the Gaels resume competition beginning at 11:45 am when they take on Princeton before wrapping up the weekend against the host Crimson at 4:45 pm.
