PROVIDENCE, RI –  Despite a first-period lead and a four-goal fourth quarter rally, the Iona women's water polo team fell 15-13 to California Baptist University in the first of three matches at the 2018 Bruno Classic hosted by Brown University.

Senior Hannah Schultz lead the Gaels with five goals, while senior Kayla Allen had four goals. Freshman Jordan Van Reeken talied a pair of goals and Iona's lone assist, and seniors Megan Hofer and Karli Normand scored one goal each.

Senior goalie Britten Vilander made three saves on 27 Lancer shots, and collected four steals and two assists.

On defense, Iona made six steals with two by Allen, and two blocked shots. The Gaels drew 12 Lancer kickouts, while being ejected 12 times. Normand was disqualified with three ejections. Iona scored on four of 11 6-5 advantages, and Cal Baptist capitalized on six of 11.

With 43 seconds gone in the match, the Lancers scored on their first possession, but Allen tied the game 27 seconds later. Cal Baptist went back up by one a minute later, then Allen's second goal retied the score at two with 3:21 to go. Regaining the lead on a five-meter penalty, the Lancers led 3-2 at the 2:13 mark, then two straight Gael goals by Normand and Schultz in the closing 1:32 gave Iona its only lead of the match 4-3 going into the second period.

Two unanswered Lancer goals in the opening two minutes of the second quarter gave Cal Baptist a one-goal lead 5-4. Allen's third goal on a five-meter penalty shot knotted the match for the fifth time at five with 4:55 on the clock. Thirty-one seconds later, the Lancers scored the same way for a 6-5 advantage. Schultz's second score tied the game at six until the Lancers answered to go back up one with 3:28 left in the frame. With 42 ticks remaining, Van Reeken's goal resulted in a halftime score of 7-7.

Outscoring Iona 6-2 in the third period, Cal Baptist hit two straight goals in the opening 2:08 for a 9-7 advantage, then Hofer narrowed the gap to one with 5:22 on the clock. Three consecutive Lancer scores in the next 3:34 gave Cal Baptist a four-goal advantage 12-8, until Hofer trimmed the score to 12-9 with 36 seconds left in the third period. The Lancers struck again with seven seconds on the clock to lead 13-9 going into the final period.

In the fourth period, neither team scored until Schultz's third goal with 5:18 left sparked a three-goal Iona rally. Van Reeken hit her second goal 53 seconds later to narrow the Lancer lead to 13-11, followed by Schultz's fourth score on Vilander's pool-length assist to pull the Gaels within one 13-12 with 3:56 remaining. On its next possession, Cal Baptist scored on a 6-5 advantage to go back up by two 14-12, but Schultz answered to pull Iona back with one 14-12 with 2:52 left. The Lancers' final goal with 48 ticks left in the match sealed the win.

The Gaels return to the pool tomorrow to take on host Brown at 9:10 a.m., and Hartwick College at 4:10 p.m.