NEW ROCHELLE, NY  – After a hard-fought 10-7 loss in its first match of 2019 this morning to No. 18 Harvard, the Iona women's water polo team rebounded for its first season win on Senior Day by an identical 10-7 score for non-conference win over Villanova University this afternoon at Hynes Pool.

Prior to the second game, the Gaels honored the squad's lone senior Alyssa Gayapa, a Chicago native, who will receive her bachelor of science degree in chemistry in May.

Game 1: Harvard 10, Iona 7
Down only one goal going into the final period, the Iona defense allowed three straight Harvard goals to fall 10-7 in the morning's season-opening match.

Sophomore Jordan Van Reeken led the Gaels with three goals, while freshman Maeve Wydan scored twice in her Gael debut. Sophomore Laura Rockett and freshman Jillian Schultz added one goal each. Iona made three assists.

Redshirt junior goalie Jordin Hale made six saves. On defense, the Gaels nabbed five steals with three by Schultz. Iona drew eight Harvard ejections, while being kicked out 11 times. Sophomore Laura Rockett was disqualified with three ejections. The Gaels turned the ball over 10 times and went 1-5 on man-up chances.

Just 1:11 into the match, Harvard struck first, then followed with two unanswered scores for a 3-0 lead with 4:25 left in the opening period. Van Reeken hit the Gaels first goal of the season 44 seconds later to pull Iona within two 3-1 with 3:41 remaining. With only 1.1 seconds on the clock, Van Reeken's second score on a five-meter penalty trimmed the Crimson lead to 3-2 going into the second quarter.

Schultz's first collegiate score 3:10 into the second period knotted the score at three, but Harvard answered with two straight goals in the next 1:13 for a 5-3 edge. With 1:55 left, Wydan hit her first Gael goal to cut Harvard's lead to one 5-4 at intermission.

Two minutes into the third quarter, Rockett tied the game for the second time 5-5, until the visitors went back up one 6-5 with 4:55 remaining. Wydan's second goal two minutes later resulted in the game's third tie at six each with 2:55 left. A point-blank Crimson goal with 37 ticks left put Harvard back up one 7-6 going to the final period.

Harvard upped its edge to two 8-6 with 21 seconds gone in the fourth period, then tacked on two more unanswered goals for a 10-6 advantage at the 3:51 mark. With 58 seconds remaining in regulation, Van Reeken's third score cut the Harvard lead to three 10-7 as the Gaels rally fell short.

Game 2: Iona 10, Villanova 7
Iona rebounded from a morning defeat to topple Villanova 10-7 in the nightcap. Prior to the contest, the Gaels honored Alyssa Gayapa.

Van Reeken, Wyndan, Schultz and freshman Brianna Erickson led the Gaels with two goals each. Sophomore Danielle Hernandez and Rockett scored one goal each. The Gaels made assisted on five goals, with two by Wydan.

In goal, Hale made 15 saves, including two in the final minutes to seal the win. On defense, Iona had 12 steals with five from freshman Karsyn Stewart and four from Wyndan. Iona drew four Villanova exclusions, while being ejected 11 times. The Gaels turned the ball over five times.

Iona struck first with 1:18 gone in the match when Erikson found the back of the net for her first Gael tally. Villanova answered to tie the game at one with 1:40 remaining the first period. With two seconds remaining, Van Reeken capitalized on a man-up chance to put the Gaels up 2-1 going into the second period.

Schultz needed only 57 seconds into the second quarter to give Iona a two-goal edge, 3-1. Two straight Wildcat goals knotted the game at three with 3:26 remaining. The Maroon & Gold took off on their own 3-0 run with scores from Wydan, Hernandez and Erickson for a three-goal cushion, 6-3 with 44 ticks on the clock. 33 seconds later, Villanova pulled back with two as Iona led 6-4 at intermission.

On their first third-period possession, the Wildcats trimmed the Gaels lead to one 6-5. Two consecutive Iona goals from Wydan and Van Reeken put the home squad back up three 8-5 with 5:53 remaining. Just 1:29 later, Villanova got within two, 8-6. Despite three straight Hale saves, Villanova scored on a breakaway to cut Iona's lead to one 8-7 with 1:08 left. After Van Reeken missed a five-meter penalty shot, Rockett's lob gave the Gaels a two-goal advantage 9-7 going into the final period.

Iona started the fourth quarter with Schultz's man-up goal, the period's only score by either squad, to lead 10-7 with 6:42 remaining in regulation. Hale sealed the Gaels first 2019 win by blocking a Wildcat five-meter penalty shot with 2:29 left, and another clutch save on a 6-4 Villanova advantage in the closing seconds.

Now in his 24th season at the helm, Iona head coach Brian Kelly was pleased with his young squad's season-opening performance, especially on defense against a nationally ranked Harvard team. "I thought we played excellent defense in both games," Kelly said. "We have a very dynamic young team. I can't recall any time in my career that I started four freshmen. It's going to be fun to see us grow as a team throughout the year."

The Gaels travel to Tempe, AZ, this coming weekend for matches against tournament host Arizona State, California Baptist, Monterey Bay and UC Santa Barbara.