PRINCETON, NJ – In a double-overtime match with the score tied ten times, the Iona women's water polo team fell to George Washington University 14-12 this evening in the first of three matches at the 2018 Princeton Invitational hosted by Princeton University.

Senior Hannah Schultz led the Gaels (2-9) with six goals, while senior Megan Hofer and freshman Jordan Van Reeken had two scores apiece. Seniors Karli Normand and Kayla Allen each added one goal.  Allen had Iona's lone assist.

Senior goalie Britten Vilander made 19 saves on 32 George Washington shots, and three collected steals.

On defense, the Gaels made nine steals and had two blocks, both by Hofer. The Gaels drew seven Colonial kickouts, while being ejected 15 times. Normand was disqualified with three ejections. The Gaels turned the ball over ten times.

George Washington struck first with 30 seconds gone in the match, but Schultz tied the score at one 19 seconds later. The Colonials retook the lead 2-1 with 6:50 left in the opening period until Schultz's second score retied the game at two 1:06 later. With 3:51 on the clock, George Washington went back up one 3-2.  Schultz knotted the game at three at 1:30 left, as she scored on all three of her first-quarter shots.

Two straight scores gave George Washington a 5-3 edge with 2:52 left in the second period. Van Reeken trimmed the Colonials advantage to one, 5-4 with 1:37 left to intermission, but George Washington answered on its next possession for a 6-4 lead at halftime.

Normand needed only 1:23 into the third period to pull Iona back within one 6-5. George Washington scored on five-meter penalty shot with 4:54 left in the third period. Forty-nine ticks later, Hofer capitalized on a man-up advantage to get the Gaels within one 7-6. Another five-meter penalty goal gave George Washington a brief two-goal lead 8-6 with 2:21 to go. Two consecutive goals from Hofer at 1:47 and Schultz at 11 seconds on the clock tied the game at eight going into the fourth period.

With 4:12 gone in the fourth quarter, the Colonials regained the lead 9-8 until Schultz's fourth goal knotted the match for the fifth time at nine with 2:12 to go. Just after George Washington retook the lead 10-9 on its third five-meter penalty score with 54 seconds remaining in regulation, Schultz's off-speed lob took the match into double overtime tied at ten.

In the first overtime period, the Colonials went back on top 11-10 with 2:32 left. Schultz's sixth score retied the match at 11 with four ticks remaining, but George Washington answered with a second on the clock to lead 12-11 going into the second overtime.

Allen tied the game at twelve with 2:18 left in the second overtime, but two unanswered Colonials goals in the closing two minutes sealed their win.