CAMBRIDGE, MA - With a loss to nationally ranked Bucknell University and an international win over Toronto University, the Iona women's water polo team split today's two matches at the Harvard Invite.

GAME 1 | Bucknell 8, iona 4

After leading briefly in the opening period, the Gaels (6-8 overall) allowed four straight Bison goals in an 8-4 loss to No. 24 Bucknell in the morning contest.

Freshman Brianna Erickson led the Gaels with two goals, while sophomore Laura Rockett and sophomore Jordan Van Reeken scored one each. Freshman Maeve Wydan assisted on three Iona goals. In goal, redshirt junior Jordin Hale made seven saves on 24 Bison shots and added a steal.

On defense, the Gaels grabbed three steals and Van Reeken blocked three Bucknell shots. Iona drew 14 Bucknell ejections with three by Van Reeken and two by freshman Jillian Schultz, while being kicked out seven times. The Gaels turned the ball over 17 times and racked up 23 shots on goal.

With 1:04 gone in the match, Rockett gave Iona its only lead 1-0 on the Gaels first 6-5 advantage. Bucknell answered two straight goals to tie the score, then built a 3-1 edge going into the second period. Van Reeken missed a five-meter penalty shot in the closing minute.

Bucknell struck again on its first second-period possession, but Erickson found the back of the net with 44 seconds gone to trim the Bison margin to 4-2. With just 28 ticks remaining, the Bison took a three-goal advantage into intermission. Iona made 11 first-half turnovers.

In the third period, Bucknell tacked on two more goals for a 7-2 lead with 1:30 left. Iona failed to score in the quarter as freshman Taylor Hensley missed a five-meter penalty shot with a minute left. Van Reeken cut the Bison lead to 7-3 with 4:34 left in regulation. After Bucknell added another goal, Erikson's second score got Iona within three 7-4 with 1:01 remaining.

GAME 2 | iona 9, toronto 5

Leading from the opening possession, Iona defeated Toronto 9-5 in the afternoon's match.         
            
Schultz led Iona with four goals, while Erickson, Hensley, freshman Malia Naugle, Stewart and Wydan had one goal each. Iona had six assists with three from Wyndan and two from Van Reeken.

In goal, Hale made 17 saves on 26 Toronto shots and one steal, and allowed three goals, while freshman Cristina Chiappini made one save on four shots and allowed two goals in the fourth quarter. On defense, Iona made four steals and blocked one shot. The Gaels drew nine Toronto ejections with four by Schultz, and were kicked out four times. Iona turned the ball over 13 times.

On Iona's first possession with 31 seconds gone in the match, Schultz struck first for the Gaels, followed by Wydan for a 2-0 lead at the six-minute mark.

As the Gael defense continued to hold the Varsity Blues scoreless until the last second of the second period, the offense built a 4-1 halftime lead. Hensley scored on Iona's first 6-5 chance with 5:41 to go, then Erickson followed with 3:22 left. With one second left before intermission, a Toronto shot floated into the goal to spoil Hale's shutout half.

Schultz's second goal 3:09 into the third period upped Iona's advantage to four 5-1. Stewart followed on a man-up advantage as the Gaels led 6-1 with 3:41 left in the third period. After Naugle's goal upped the Iona to six 7-1 with 2:07 on the clock, two straight Varsity Blues goals in the closing minute pulled Toronto back within four 7-3. Schultz's third score with 29 seconds remaining put Iona back up five 8-3 going into the final period.

Schultz's fourth goal with 6:33 increased Iona's margin to 9-3. With 5:12 left, Chiappini replaced Hale in the Iona net. Toronto managed two goals in the closing four minutes as Iona held on for the win.

Despite opening the weekend with a loss to Bucknell, Iona head coach Brian Kelly praised his squad's defensive effort in both games. "It's no secret that we played our best team defense of the season by sticking with the game plan and communicating," Kelly said.  "We communicated on all switches, post ups and mismatches. We did an excellent job against a nationally ranked Bucknell team. If we hit our penalty shots and converted on our power plays, it might have been a different outcome. We continued that defensive momentum into the Toronto game. Tomorrow will be a massive test for us against UC Davis."
 

UP NEXT

The Gaels face No. 9 UC Davis tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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