NEW ROCHELLE, NY –  After an early morning defeat to No. 18 Wagner, the Iona College women's water polo team ended their four-game weekend home-stand with a 15-2 win over LaSalle this afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Hynes Center Pool.

Game 1: Wagner 15, Iona 5

After falling behind 4-0 in the opening period, the Gaels (8-19 overall, 5-2 MAAC) were unable to rally and fell 15-5 to Wagner in today's opening match.                                                                         
      
Senior Hannah Schultz led Iona with four goals on eight shots, while senior Karli Normand and freshman Jordan Van Reeken had one goal each. In goal, senior Britten Vilander made nine saves on 25 Wagner shots and grabbed two steals.

On defense, the Gaels collected six steals and blocked one shot. Iona drew ten Wagner kickouts, and were ejected 15 times. Senior Kayla Allen, Schultz and Van Reeken were disqualified with three ejections each. Iona scored on one of nine man-up chances, while Wagner capitalized on six of 13 opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over 14 times.

After four consecutive Wagner goals in the opening 3:44, Schultz put Iona on the board with 3:15 remaining the first period. The Seahawks scored on their first 6-5 advantage with 38 seconds gone in the second period, but Schultz answered on the Gaels next possession as Iona trailed 5-2. After Wagner hit two more goals, Schultz's third score pulled Iona within four, 7-3 with 4:15 remaining. At the 2:04 mark, the Seahawks went back up five 8-3, then Schultz found the back of the net nine ticks later to trim the visitors' lead to 8-4. Two unanswered Wagner scores in the closing 1:20 gave the Seahawks a 10-4 advantage at intermission.

In the first five minutes of the third period, Wagner added two more scores until Normand's goal cut the Seahawks lead to 12-5 with 2:45 remaining. Three more unanswered Wagner goals in the closing 2:21 put the visitors up 15-5 going into the final period. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter until Van Reeken's five-meter penalty shot goal with 2:10 left in regulation.

Game 2: Iona 15, La Salle 2         
     
Despite being tied at one with the Explorers late in the first quarter, the Gaels offense took off for a 15-2 win with Iona head coach Brian Kelly playing his entire squad. Iona's two goals allowed was it's fewest since February 22, 2015 against Washington and Jefferson.

Schultz led the Gaels with six goals, while Allen scored two goals. Joshi, sophomore Regan Warmoth, and freshman Aubree Fuher, Laura Rockett, Danielle Hernandez, Kate Schmitt and Carli Tovar had one score apiece. For Hernandez and Tovar, it was their first collegiate goal

In goal, Vilander made seven saves on 12 LaSalle shots and nabbed seven steals.

Iona drew four LaSalle kickouts, while being ejected six times. The Gaels scored on one of four man-up chances, while the Explorers capitalized on two of six. Iona turned the ball over ten times.

With 2:45 left in the opening period, Allen put Iona on the board first. On their next possession, the Explorers knotted the game at one, but Joshi's lob gave the Gaels a one-goal advantage with 1:34 to go. Schultz added another score 37 ticks later to give the home squad a 3-1 lead going into the second quarter.

Schultz's three straight goals on consecutive Gaels possessions put Iona up 6-1 with 2:44 left to intermission. With 6:21 gone in the third quarter, Schultz upped the Gael lead to 7-1, then tacked on another score 18 seconds later for an 8-1 home advantage. After Allen's second goal with 4:19 left, La Salle trimmed the Iona lead to 8-2 at the 2:32 mark. Two unanswered Iona goals by Rockett and Warmouth gave Iona an 11-2 cushion going into the final period.

With 38 seconds gone in the fourth quarter, Fuher began a four-goal run by the freshmen class with goals from Schmitt, Hernandez and Tovar to seal the win.

Although disappointed with the number of exclusions in the loss to Wagner, Kelly saw improvement as his squad continues their MAAC schedule. "We came out and played with a lot of energy in the first game against Wagner, but we took too many exclusions, which hurt our chances to win," said Kelly. "You can't have 15 exclusions in a game and expect to win against a good team. "Our half-court defense was solid in both games today. We're improving and looking forward to the next weekend of games."

After the Easter Break, Iona travels to Poughkeepsie on Saturday, April 7 to take on Villanova at 10:30 a.m., and host Marist at 4:30 p.m. The following day, the Maroon & Gold will do battle with Virginia Military Institute at 10:30 AM.