STATEN ISLAND, NY - The Iona College water polo program split a pair of MAAC contests Saturday on the campus of Wagner College. The Gaels posted a season-best 17 goals in a win over St. Francis Brooklyn in the opening match and later fell 13-6 against Marist.

GAME 1 | Iona 17, St. Francis Brooklyn 13

Five goals apiece by Jillian Schultz and Jordan Van Reeken, and 15 saves by Jordin Hale led the Maroon & Gold to a 17-13 opening victory over St. Francis Brooklyn. Schultz also recorded an incredible nine drawn exclusions.
 
The teams drew even in the first eight minutes, each scoring two. Iona received scores from Van Reeken and Maeve Wydan.
 
The Terriers seemed to have an answer for each Maroon & Gold tally in the second quarter, scoring each time the Gaels pulled ahead. Naugle was the first to find the back of the net in the quarter, followed by Van Reeken, Stewart and Rockett to put Iona up 6-5 at half.
 
Taylor Hensley put the Gaels up a pair in the third quarter, and after a Terriers score, Schultz connected with her first of the game with 4:13 left in the quarter. The Terriers scored three of the next four goals with Iona's score coming from Naugle. With the score knotted at 9-9, Schultz and Van Reeken scored over the final 1:08 to take an 11-9 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Iona outscored the Terriers 6-4 in the final frame. The first two scores came from Van Reeken and the next three from Schultz. With Iona up by three with 36 ticks remaining, Van Reeken topped off the scoring.
 
Eight different Gaels found the back of the net, and six of Iona's tallies were assisted. Iona drew 17 exclusions, going 6-17 on the man-advantage.

GAME 2 | marist 13, iona 6

After scoring a season-best 17 goals in the first game, the offense was unsuccessful gaining traction against Marist in the nightcap. The Gaels scored three goals in each half, with all offense coming from freshmen.
 
Taylor Hensley and Jillian Schultz each scored two goals in the game and Karsyn Stewart and Maeve Wydan scored once. Jordin Hale stopped four shots in net.
 
The Red Foxes outscored Iona 5-2 in the opening frame. Marist struck first but Taylor Hensley answered off a feed from Danielle Hernandez. Jillian Schultz later answered a Marist tally with 5:45 remaining.
 
The teams buckled down defensively in the second quarter. Karsyn Stewart brought the Gaels within four, 7-3 at the break.
 
Marist outpaced the Gaels 6-3 in the second half. The Gaels received a powerplay goal from Schultz, and tallies from Hensley and Maeve Wydan.

UP NEXT

The Gaels finish up their trip tomorrow in Staten Island against VMI at 1:30 p.m.

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