RIVERSIDE, CA – The Iona women's water polo team wrapped up its two-day, four-match California trip with two wins Saturday, 12-5 over Claremont-Mudd- Scripps and 21-3 win over La Verne University at the 2014 Lancer Invitational hosted by California Baptist University.
In the opener, senior Amy Olsen led the Gaels (5-13) with five goals including four in the first two periods. Sophomore Dana Andrea hit three goals and senior Erika Lauraitis and sophomore Taylor Silva had two apiece. Senior goalie Marisa Gaynor recorded eight saves and one assist. Silva drew three CMS kick outs. Iona scored on two of three man-up opportunities.
With 1:16 gone in the match, CMS scored first, and hit another goal 43 seconds later for a 2-0 lead. Olsen answered with two straight scores to tie the score at two with 1:28 left in the first period.
Olsen continued to dissect the CMS defense with two more scores in the opening minutes of the second period to put the Gaels ahead 4-2 at 6:15 gone. CMS hit a five-meter penalty shot at 4:06 to trim the Iona lead to 4-3. On a 6-on-5 advantage with 1:34 left in the second, Andrea found the back of the net to give the Maroon & Gold a 5-3 halftime advantage.
In the third period, the Gaels scored the only three tallies with a goal by Silva and two by Lauraitis for an 8-3 lead going into the fourth. During the final period, Andrea hit two goals, while Olsen and Silva added one each to CMS' two scores. With 1:26 left in the match, Andrea's third score gave the Gaels a seven-goal edge 12-5, their largest of the game.
In the night cap, Olsen led again with four goals, Hanly and Andrea hit three each. Lauraitis, Matthews, sophomore Meghan Mahoney, and freshman Darby Nevins scored two each. The Gaels got one goal each from Silva, junior Katie Stelnicki, and junior Jordan Carmody (her first Iona goal). Gaynor recorded seven saves and three steals.
The Gaels led the entire match following Olsen's first goal. Two straight goals from Lauraitis and one each from Stelnicki, Hanly and Matthews gave the Gaels a 6-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Leopards scored twice the second period, but Iona scores by Carmody, Mahoney and Matthews gave the Gaels a 9-2 halftime advantage.
As Iona head coach Brian Kelly played his entire squad, Iona outscored La Verne 6-0 in the third period, and 6-1 in the final period.
“It was nice getting two wins today,” Kelly said. “Our defense has been really playing well lately. The past two weekends we've really started to step up, and that will prepare us for league play.”
The three-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Gaels begin their conference schedule next Saturday at Villanova against St. Francis Brooklyn and Wagner.
