ANN ARBOR, MI – Despite six goals from junior Jordan Van Reeken, the Iona women's water polo team dropped its first two matches today to Bucknell University and Santa Clara University at the Wolverine Invitational here this weekend hosted by the University of Michigan.
GAME ONE SUMMARY
After trailing 7-1 at halftime, Iona rallied with five second-half goals, but fell short 13-6 to Bucknell this morning in the tournament's opening match. Junior Jordan van Reeken led the Gaels with four goals on eight shots, while juniors Danielle Hernandez and Carli Tovar scored one goal each. Iona scored six goals on 25 shots.
In goal, red-shirt senior Jordin Hale, had five saves, including stopping a five-meter penalty shot, on 17 Bucknell shots, nine goals against, and two steals in the first three quarters. Freshman Zoe Metzger had two saves on seven Bison shots, including a five-meter penalty save, one steal and four goals against in the final period.
On defense, Iona had five steals with two by Van Reeken and sophomore Karsyn Stewart blocked one shot. The Maroon & Gold drew nine Bison kick outs with two each from Van Reeken, Hernandez, and juniors Maeve Wydan and Malia Naugle, while being ejected six times. Iona scored on five of nine man-up chances, and Bucknell capitalized on one of five. The Gaels were assessed six five-meter penalties, which resulted in four Bison goals.Â
After Hale blocked a five-meter penalty shot, Bucknell reeled off three straight goals, including a five-meter penalty score, for a 3-0 lead with 3:09 remaining in the opening period. Following an Iona timeout, Hernandez put the Gaels on the board to pull within two 3-1 at the 2:03 mark.
With 31 seconds gone in the second period, the Bisons went back up three 4-1. Bucknell scored a man-up goal, followed by a five-meter penalty score, for a five-goal 6-1 edge with 2:40 left. On their next possession, the Bisons struck again for a 7-1 halftime lead. In the first half, Iona scored one goal on 12 shots.
The Bisons needed only 23 seconds into the third period to go up seven 8-1, until Tovar's man-up score cut the Bucknell edge back to six 8-2 with 6:57 on the clock. After another Bucknell goal, Van Reeken took advantage of a 6-5 chance to slice the Bison lead to six 9-3 with 2:36 remaining.
After Metzger stopped a five-meter penalty shot 17 seconds into the final period, Bucknell scored on another five-meter penalty on its next possession. Bucknell tacked on two more goals until Van Reeken's second score trimmed the Bison advantage back to eight 12-4 at the 4:12 mark. Following another Bucknell goal, Van Reeken earned a hat trick on a 6-5 chance as the Bisons led 13-5 with 3:21 left in regulation. Van Reeken added her fourth goal at the 1:12 mark.
GAME TWO SUMMARY
Despite a fourth-quarter rally, Iona fell short 10-7 to Santa Clara in this afternoon's match. Van Reeken led the Gaels with two scores on seven shots, while Hernandez, Stewart, junior Laura Rockett, Wydan and freshman Mia Tovar added one score each. The Gaels made three assists with two from Stewart. Iona scored seven goals on 25 shots.
In goal, Hale made 15 saves on 27 Santa Clara shots and three steals. On defense, the Maroon & Gold made three steals with two by Van Reeken, who also blocked one shot. Iona drew ten Santa Clara kickouts with four by Van Reeken and three by Hernandez, while being ejected ten times. The Gaels scored two goals on ten man-up chances, and the Broncos capitalized on three of six chances. Iona turned the ball over ten times.
Just 27 seconds into the match, Santa Clara struck first, but Hernandez got Iona on the board for a one-all tie with 4:17 left in the opening period. The Broncos hit two straight scores for a 3-1 lead with 35 seconds left, then Stewart pulled the Gaels within one 3-2 just 16 ticks later.
The Broncos went back up two 4-2 on a five-meter penalty shot with 4:48 remaining until Tovar cut Santa Clara's lead to one 4-3 on the Maroon & Gold's next possession 20 ticks later. The Broncos added another goal with 3:17 to go for a 5-3 halftime edge.
Two unanswered Broncos goals in the opening 4:01 of the third period put Santa Clara up four 7-3. After an Iona timeout, Van Reeken got the Gaels back within three 7-4 with 3:46 remaining. Santa Clara answered with 2:09 on the clock for an 8-4 advantage going into the final period.
In a fourth-quarter rally, the Maroon & Gold outscored the Broncos 3-2. With 1:31 gone, Rockett cut the Broncos edge to three 8-5, but then Santa Clara scored on its next possession with a 6-on-5 goal. Van Reeken's second goal on the Gaels next trip down the pool pulled Iona back within three 9-6 with 5:23 left. After Santa Clara regained a four-goal advantage 10-6, Wydan buried a five-meter penalty shot in the back of the net as the Gaels crept back within three 10-7 with 3:15 to go, but the Iona rally fell short.
COACH THOUGHTS
Even with some improvement in today's second match, Iona head coach Brian Kelly was disappointed with his squad's defensive effort and man-up offense.
"Our team defense was terrible in the first game," Kelly said. "There was no communication between the defenders that led to several breakdowns. We did a much better job in the second game against Santa Clara, but we still had a few key lapses when we had a zone.
"Our six-on-five started strong and wound up hurting us in the end. We went two for ten. That could have been the difference in the game."
UP NEXT
On Sunday, Iona takes on host Michigan at 9:20 a.m., and St. Francis (PA) at 1:20 p.m., before heading back to New Rochelle.
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