POUGHKEEPSIE, NY -- Despite pulling within one goal with 25 seconds left, the Iona women's water polo team fell 9-8 to Brown University this afternoon at the 2018 Marist Invitation hosted by Marist College.

Senior Kayla Allen led the Gaels (2-13) with five goals, while senior Hannah Schultz scored two and freshman Laura Rockett had one goal in the final seconds. The Gaels had three assists.

Senior goalie Britten Vilander made four saves on 16 Brown shots and added two steals.

On defense, Iona made nine steals. The Gaels drew seven Brown ejections with four by freshman Jordan Van Reeken, and were kicked out six times. Senior Karli Normand was disqualified in the fourth quarter with three ejections. Iona turned the ball over 12 times. The Gaels converted on three man-up goals on seven chances, while Brown connected on three-of-six.

Allen needed only a minute to put Iona up 1-0, but Brown answered 30 seconds later to knot the game at one. On the Gaels next possession, Allen's second score put Iona back up by one with 6:03 left in the opening period. Two unanswered Brown goals in the next two minutes gave the Bears a 3-2 edge with 4:13 on the clock. Schultz took advantage of a 6-5 advantage to tie the score for third time at three at the 2:20 mark. With two straight scores in the closing 56 seconds, Brown led 5-3 going into the second period.

Brown scored on its first second-period possession with 52 ticks gone, then Allen's third goal pulled Iona back within two 6-4 with 5:37 to go. 43 seconds later, Allen struck again to the Gaels next possession to trim Brown's lead to one 6-5 at intermission.

With 4:14 gone in the third period, Schultz found the back of the net on another man-up chance to tie the match at six. Two minutes later, the Bears regained the lead 7-6 going into the final period of regulation, as Iona outscored Brown 3-2 in the second and third quarters.

Allen's fifth goal evened the score at seven with 4:54 remaining in regulation, but two unanswered goals gave the Bears a 9-7 edge with 1:09 left. After Iona head coach Brian Kelly called time out with 44 ticks remaining, Rockett cut the deficit to one, 9-8 just 19 seconds later, but the Gael rally fell short.

The Gaels travel to Ann Arbor, MI, next weekend for four matches at the 2018 Wolverine Invite hosted by the University of Michigan. Iona will face Azusa Pacific and Bucknell on Saturday, and California State Northridge, Michigan and Long Beach State on Sunday.