NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona women's water polo team honored their six graduating seniors by increasing their Metro Atlantic Conference win streak to four with two conference home wins over Siena and St. Francis Brooklyn today at Hynes Pool.
 
The squad's departing seniors include Kayla Allen, Megan Hofer, Devika Joshi, Karli Normand, Hannah Schultz, and Brittan Vilander.
 
Iona 15 Siena 5
 
After giving up the opening goal to visiting Siena, the Gaels (7-18 overall, 4-1 MAAC) reeled off six straight scores for a 15-5 win in today's first match.
 
Senior Kayla Allen and freshman Jordan Van Reeken led Iona with four goals each, while senior Hannah Schultz had three scores. Seniors Hofer and Karli Normand, and freshmen Aubree Fuher and Laura Rockett added one goal apiece.

In goal, senior Britten Vilander made eight saves on 15 Saints shot and six steals.

On defense, the Gaels collected eight steals. Iona drew five Siena kickouts, while being ejected eight times. The Gaels scored on two of five man-up chances, while the Saints capitalized on one of seven opportunities. Iona turned the ball over 14 times.

The visitors took an early 1-0 lead with 47 seconds gone in the match, until two unanswered Iona scores by Allen tied the game, and followed up with another to put the Gaels up with 4:09 left in the first period. Continuing a 5-0 Iona run in the closing 1:20, Van Reeken, Rockett and Normand put Iona up 5-1 going into the second period.
 
Schultz needed only 35 seconds to increase Iona's lead to 6-1, then Siena answered with 6:19 on the clock. With 4:25 left, Schultz's second score increased the Gaels lead to 7-2.  A Siena five-meter penalty score got Siena within four 7-3 at the 3:01 mark. As the first-half clock ticked down to three seconds, Van Reeken gave Iona another five-goal cushion at the intermission.
 
Van Reeken's second and third unanswered goals at the 6:14 and 2:24 marks were the only scores in the third period for either team as Iona lead 10-3 going into the final period. With two goals from Allen and one each from Hofer, Schultz and Fuher's first collegiate goal, Iona outscored Siena 5-2 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
 
Iona 14 St. Francis (Brooklyn) 8  
 
After honoring their six seniors prior to the game, the Gaels defeated St. Francis (Brooklyn) 14-8 in today's second match.
 
Schultz led Iona with seven goals on 12 shots, while Allen and Joshi had two scores each. Hofer, Rockett and Van Reeken had one goal apiece.
 
In goal, Vilander made 11 saves on 20 Terriers shots, nabbed five steals and Iona's only two assists.
 
On defense, the Gaels collected 12 steals with three by Allen, and blocked one shot. Iona drew eight St. Francis kickouts, while being ejected nine times. The Gaels scored six goals on eight man-up chances while the Terriers capitalized on five-of-ten opportunities. Iona turned the ball over 11 times.
 
Schultz got the Gaels on the board first for a 1-0 advantage with 1:28 gone in the match. On their first man-advantage chance 33 seconds later, the Terriers knotted the score at one. With just 57 ticks left in the opening period, Rockett put Iona back on top 2-1.
 
Only 39 seconds into the second period, Joshi's goal from the point gave the home squad a 3-1 edge. Three straight Iona scores from Van Reeken, Allen and Schultz within a minute upped the Gael lead to 6-1 with 3:23 remaining. St. Francis trimmed the Iona lead to 6-2 on a five-meter penalty shot at the 2:30 mark, but Allen answered on Iona's next possession. Another Terriers' score with 1:42 to go cut the Gaels advantage to 7-3 at intermission.
 
Iona outscored St. Francis 6-1 on goals from Joshi, Hofer and four consecutive goals by Schultz for a 13-4 advantage entering the final period. The Terriers outscored the Gaels 4-1 in the final frame with Iona's lone goal coming at 4:42 on Schultz' seventh goal when her seven-meter lob found the right top of the cage.
 
Kelly was pleased with his team's performance at both ends of the pool.
 
"I'm extremely happy with the defensive efforts," Kelly said. "Our half-court defense has been our biggest strength all year.  Britten was phenomenal all day long, really making it difficult on the opponents' offenses. We have a lot of girls contributing right led by Hannah Schultz."

The Gaels continue tomorrow with games against Wagner (9:00 AM) and La Salle (4:30 PM).