POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - After yesterday's disappointing 7-4 semifinal loss to Marist College, the Iona women's water polo ended its season with a 9-7 win this afternoon over Virginia Military Institute for third place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships here this weekend.

In their final game for the Gaels (13-23), seniors Megan Hofer, Devika Joshi and Hannah Schultz led Iona with two goals each. Senior Kayla Allen, freshman Laura Rockett and freshman Jordan Van Reeken had one score apiece. Joshi was named to the All-Tournament team with her four goals over the weekend.

Senior goalie Britten Vilander made nine saves on 26 VMI shots and grabbed one steal.

On defense, Iona made 12 steals with four by Allen and three by Van Reeken. The Gaels drew nine Keydet kickouts, while being ejected 18 times. Senior Karli Normand, Rockett, Joshi and Hofer were disqualified with three ejections each. Iona scored two goals on nine man-up chances, while VMI capitalized on four of 15 opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over four times.

Joshi put Iona ahead 1-0 on Iona's first possession just 29 seconds gone in the match. Hofer scored 1:50 later to give the Gaels a 2-0 edge with 5:41 left in the opening period.  After a Keydet lob nearly floated into the goal, VMI got on the board to trim the Iona lead to 3-1 at the 3:14 mark. With only 16 ticks remaining, Allen's point-blank shot put the Gaels up 4-1 going into the second quarter.

On a 6-4 advantage with 1:32 gone, the Keydets pulled within two, then scored on their next possession to cut the Gael lead to one 4-3 with 5:25 remaining. VMI continued a 3-0 run to tie the match at four with 3:37 on the clock. Since the Gaels failed to score in the second period, the score remained tied at intermission.

The Keydets took the lead 5-4 on a 6-5 advantage with 1:18 gone in the third period. Hofer's right-side lob ended the Iona scoring drought for a five-all tie with 3:14 on the clock.  When Rockett's shot bounced off the right post into the net, Iona briefly regained the lead 6-5 with 2:52 remaining, as VMI retied the game at six 12 ticks later. After Vilander's soaring save spoiled a VMI breakaway and a media timeout, Van Reeken put Iona back on top 7-6 with 59 seconds left.

Thirty-nine seconds into the fourth quarter, the Keydets retied the game for the fourth time at seven on a man-up chance. The Gaels regained the lead with 6:36 left on Joshi's second goal, then Schultz found the back of the net again on a 6-5 chance for a two-goal Iona lead 9-7 at the 4:57 mark. VMI failed to score in the final minute on a two-man advantage, and Iona ran out the clock for the win.

Pleased with his squad's season-ending win over "very difficult" VMI team, Iona head coach Brian Kelly was glad to send his five seniors off with a victory.

"It's always nice to end the season with a win," said Kelly, who wrapped up his 23^rd season at the helm.  "We've gone back and forth with VMI two years in a row. They're a very difficult team to play against.  They do a lot of things well and are extremely physical.  It was excellent to send our seniors off with a win."

Iona will say goodbye to all-time leading goal-scorer Hannah Schultz, Kayla Allen, Karli Normand, Megan Hofer, Devika Joshi and Britten Vilander.