POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - After a first half that featured four ties and three lead changes, the third-seeded Iona women's water polo team gave their six graduating teammates a victorious send off with a 9-7 win over fourth-seeded Villanova University in this afternoon's consolation match at the 2016 MAAC Water Polo Championship hosted by Marist College.
Senior Rebecca Mathews and sophomore Hannah Schultz led the Gaels with three goals each. Senior Taylor Silva, junior Darby Nevins, sophomore Kayla Allen each scored one goal.
In goal, sophomore Britten Vilander had three saves and three steals, and freshman Jordin Hale had three saves and one steal, including stopping a Villanova five-meter penalty shot in the second quarter.
On defense, the Gaels (13-15 overall) made 17 steals, including five by senior Dana Andrea and four steals and a block by Silva. Iona drew five Villanova kickouts, and were ejected seven times, including two five-meter penalties. On offense, the Gaels dished out five assists. Iona scored on two of six man-up chances, while Villanova capitalized on one of six.
With both squads scoreless for the opening 3:45, Villanova struck first on a five-meter penalty shot. The Gaels responded with two straight scores by Silva and Mathews for a 2-1 lead with 2:52 left in the first quarter. Villanova's goal on a 6-5 advantage at the quarter buzzer knotted the match at two.
The second quarter featured two ties and two lead changes. Thirty-eight seconds into the period, Villanova retook the lead 3-2. Nevins and Schultz retied the score, then put Iona up 4-3 with 5:11 left. The Wildcats retied the match at four at the 3:50 mark, but with Schultz's second goal the Gaels retook the lead 31 seconds later. Hale blocked a Villanova five-meter penalty shot with 20 seconds to go, then Allen put Iona up by two 6-4 with seven seconds to halftime.
With 2:28 gone in the third, Schultz's cross-cage lob gave Iona a 7-4 advantage. The Iona defense stopped the Wildcats on two man-up opportunities, but Villanova trimmed the Gael lead to 7-5 with 11 seconds left in the third period.
Villanova got within one 7-6 with 1:49 gone in the fourth period, but Mathews regained the two-goal edge 8-6 just 21 seconds later. The pesky Wildcats narrowed the Gael lead to 8-7 a minute later, but Mathews third goal on a back-hand shot with one tick on the shot clock gave Iona a 9-7 edge with 2:38 left. Andrea's steal shut down a Wildcat 6-5 advantage at the 38-second mark, as the Gaels successfully stalled to the buzzer and seal the win.
Although disappointed with yesterday's loss to Wagner in the semi-final, Iona head coach Brian Kelly praised his squad's effort today to send the seniors off with a victory.
“I'm proud of our efforts this weekend,” Kelly said. “We played as hard as we did all year. We were hoping to be in the championship game today, but we couldn't get it done.
“I'm happy for our seniors. They really wanted to go out winners. They really fought a hard to get a “w” today.”
For the squad's six soon-to-be graduates, their final game was a bittersweet victory, as they remembered going to the 2013 NCAA Water Polo Championship as freshmen. They leave Iona better as players and persons.
“It was great to end my Iona career with a win, and I'm glad I got to spend my four years with such an outstanding group of girls,” tri-captain Rebecca Mathews (Flossmore, IL) said.
“Iona water polo has been my family for the past four years, and it feels amazing to end as winners with the greatest girls I have ever met,” Dana Andrea (Indian Creek, IL) said. “I owe them everything and love them dearly.”
“I'm so glad and thankful that I had the opportunity to play the sport that I love with this amazing team,” said sophomore Brittany Toro (Orlando, FL), who will earn her bachelor's degree after two years as a Gael. “The girls on this team are some of the best people I have ever met, and I know I have gained life-long friends and a family away from home. I love them and I would not be the person I am today without them, especially the sophomores.”
“It feels good ending my career as an Iona Gael with a win,” Meghan Mahoney (Pittsburgh, PA) said. “These past four years have been such an amazing journey. I am so grateful for all the hard work and time my coaches have put in this program. With their guidance, I have become a better player. I owe everything to my teammates and leave Iona knowing I have made life-long friends.”
“These last four years have shaped me into the person I am now with the people I have met and the experiences we've had,” tri-captain Taylor Silva (Houston, TX) said. “I will always remember my college years at Iona.”
“Throughout these past four years, I have gained a huge family that I will always love,” Sara Bortz (Mohnton, PA) said. “I am grateful to each and every person on this team for making me the person I am today. I wouldn't have wanted to play the sport I love with anyone else. I play for them.”
