PRINCETON, NJ - Despite two first-quarter leads, the Iona women's water polo team lost 17-7 to host Princeton University and 15-3 to Brown University in two non-conference matches today at DeNunzio Pool.

GAME 1 | #14 Princeton 17, Iona 7

Despite scoring the game's first goal and pulling within four in the second period, Iona (1-7 overall) fell 17-7 to Princeton in this morning's match.

Sophomore Jordan Van Reeken led the Gaels with four goals on eight shots. Freshman Taylor Hensley scored two goals and freshman Jillian Schultz had one. Iona dished out five assists. In goal, freshman Cristina Chiappini had four saves on 22 Princeton shots and one steal, while allowing all 17 goals.

On defense, the Gaels grabbed eleven steals with four by Van Reeken and two by Schultz. Iona drew 11 Princeton kickouts with four by Hensley and three by Schultz, while being ejected nine times. Schultz also drew two five-meter penalties. The Gaels turned the ball over 16 times and scored twice on 11 man-up chances.

Van Reeken put the Gaels on the board first on a five-meter penalty shot drawn by Schultz, but the Tigers hit five unanswered scores, including a man-up goal, to lead 5-1 with 1:48 left in the opening period. Van Reeken's skip-shot goal 38 seconds later cut the hosts' lead to three 5-2 going into the second period.

The Tigers opened the second period with three more goals to go up 8-2 with 5:33 remaining. Schultz took advantage of a man-up chance followed by Van Reeken's third goal on a five-meter penalty to trim the Princeton edge to 8-4 with 2:31 left. After Princeton answered, Van Reeken struck again on a 6-5 chance to pull Iona back within four 9-5 with 1:35 to halftime. Princeton tacked on two more goals in the closing minute for a 11-5 lead at intermission.

In the third period, Princeton scored three more times, while Iona failed to score, as the Tigers led 14-5 going into the final period.

After Princeton scored, Hensley's catch-and-shoot goal pulled Iona within nine, 15-6 with 2:35 to go in regulation. The Tigers answered on their next possession, then Hensley struck again to trim the home edge to 16-7 with two minutes left in regulation. Another Princeton score 33 seconds later sealed the Tigers win.
 

GAME 2 | Brown 15, Iona 3

After leading 3-2 at the end of the first period, Iona failed to score in the remainder of this afternoon's 15-3 loss to Brown University.

Sophomore Laura Rockett, Van Reeken and Schultz scored one goal each for the Gaels, who took 20 shots. In goal, Chiapinni made seven saves on 25 Bears shots, while allowing 15 goals.

On defense, Iona made four steals and blocked one Brown shot. The Gaels drew seven Bears ejections with four by Van Reeken, while being kicked out nine times. Van Reeken was disqualified with three ejections with 3:17 left in the match. The Gaels failed to score on eight man-up chances. Iona turned the ball over 17 times.

With 2:30 gone, Schultz hit the match's first goal, followed by Rockett on the Gaels next possession for a 2-0 lead with 5:01 left in the opening period. Brown answered with two straight goals, including a man-up score, to tie the game at two with 3:57 remaining. After sophomore Aubree Fuher stole a pass from the Brown goalie 45 seconds later, Van Reeken scored to put the Gaels back up one 3-2 going into the second period.

After neither squad scored for the first four minutes of the second period, Brown reeled off five unanswered goals to build a four-goal lead with 1:52 left to intermission. Iona failed to score in the second quarter.

In the third period, the Bears tacked on three more goals for to cap an 8-0 run, as six Gael shots, including a man-up chance, could not find the back of the net. The Iona offensive drought continued into the final period, while Brown hit five more unanswered goals for the win.

Iona head coach Brian Kelly was disappointed with his young squad's offensive performance, particularly excessive turnovers. "We turned the ball over in close to half of our possessions in both games today," Kelly said. "We didn't protect the ball, and when you do that, you can't win games."

UP NEXT

The Gaels travel to Erie, PA, for the Mercyhurst Tournament next weekend for four non-conference matches. On Saturday, Iona faces Salem at 2 p.m., and Gannon at 7 p.m., and on Sunday morning, the Gaels take on McKendree at 8 a.m., and host Mercyhurst University at 11:45 a.m.

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