CAMBRIDGE, MA – In its last weekend of non-conference play, the Iona women's water polo team rebounded from a 14-3 loss to Salem University this morning to take Brown University to triple overtime in a 15-14 defeat this afternoon at the Harvard Invite hosted by Harvard University.
Salem 14, Iona 3
After trailing by just three goals 6-3 at halftime, Iona did not score in the second half, while allowing eight straight Salem scores to fall 14-3 in the opening match. Junior Jordan van Reeken, sophomore Karsyn Stewart, freshman Mia Tovar had one goal each for the Gaels. van Reeken and sophomore Maeve Wydan each assisted on a goal. Iona scored three goals on 20 shots. The Maroon & Gold scored one goal on three man-up chances, while the Tigers capitalized on two of five.
In goal, red-shirt senior Jordin Hale made nine saves on 25 Salem shots and had 11 goals against in three periods. In the fourth quarter, freshman Zoe Metzger made three saves on five Tigers shots, and had three goals against. On defense, the Maroon and Gold made two steals by junior Danielle Hernandez and red-shirt sophomore Aubree Fuher. Iona drew three Salem kickouts, while being ejected six times. Iona turned the ball over 11 times.
After Salem scored two unanswered goals for a 2-0 lead with 5:03 left in the opening period, Van Reeken put Iona on the board 1:16 later as the Gaels trailed 2-1. The Tigers tacked on another score with 50 seconds left for a 3-1 advantage going into the second period. In the opening 1:31 of the second quarter, the Tigers hit two more consecutive goals to increase their lead to four 5-1. With 1:12 remaining, Stewart got Iona within three 5-2, but Salem answered on its next possession to go back up four 6-2. Tovar's goal with 33 seconds left trimmed the Tigers lead to three 6-3 at intermission.
The Tigers needed only 22 seconds into the third quarter to go back up four 7-3. With 5:07 on the clock, Salem struck again for a five-goal advantage 8-3. In the closing 2:10, the Tigers took a 10-3 lead on two more goals, as the Gaels failed to score in the third period. With four unanswered fourth-quarter scores, Salem continued an 8-0 run to seal the win, while Iona could not find the back of the next in the final period.
Brown 15, Iona 14 3OT
Never down by more than four goals in this afternoon's match, the Maroon & Gold rallied in the second half to force three overtimes, then fell to Brown 15-14 in sudden death. Stewart led the Gaels with five goals, while junior Laura Rockett and Van Reeken recorded hat tricks. Wydan hit two goals and sophomore Malia Naugle had one score. Â Iona scored 14 goals on 32 shots. The Gaels made five assists with three by Van Reeken.
In goal, Hale made 13 saves on 35 Brown shots, and one steal. On defense, the Gaels made five steals with two by Stewart. Iona drew six Brown kickouts, while being ejected five times. The Maroon & Gold scored three goals on six man-up chances, and the Bears hit five goals on six man-up opportunities.
After Brown hit two straight scores in the opening 2:35 for a 2-0 lead, Wydan took advantage of a 6-5 chance to cut the Bears lead to one 2-1 with 4:54 on the clock. Brown answered on its next possession, then van Reeken's goal pulled Iona back within one 3-2 at the 3:25 mark.
Brown opened the second period with two consecutive goals for 5-2 edge with 6:45 to go. Wydan's second score sliced the Bears margin to two 5-3 just 46 seconds later. With 3:05 to halftime, Stewart got Iona within one 5-4, but Brown answered with two straight strong-side goals to go up three 7-4 with 1:56 remaining. On Iona's next trip down the pool, Rockett cut the Brown halftime lead to 7-5.
Two straight Bears goals gave Brown a four-score 9-5 edge 1:54 into the third period. Stewart hit her second goal on a man-up opportunity, followed by Van Reeken's second score to trim the Brown lead back to two 9-7 at the 4:43 mark. Brown responded with a lob goal, then Rockett found back of the net for the second time as the Bears led 10-8 with 2:57 remaining. Brown scored on its next possession, but Rockett struck again for a hat trick, then Stewart did the same, as Iona clawed back within a goal 11-10 going into the final period. Â
With 3:54 left in regulation, the Gaels third hat trick of the match happened on Van Reeken's goal to knot the score at 11. Thirteen ticks later, the Bears regained the lead 12-11, until Stewart's fourth score on a man-up chance re-tied the game at 12 at the 2:18 mark. Both squads failed to score in the final two minutes, including Hale's stopping a last-second Brown shot, to take the match into double overtime.
Naugle gave the Gaels their first lead 13-12 with 41 seconds left in first overtime, but Brown responded 28 ticks later to tie the score for the third time at 13 going into the second extra period. On a man-up chance with 33 seconds gone in second overtime, Brown retook the lead 14-13. Stewart's fifth goal knotted the score at 14 with 1:54 on the clock.  Another last-second Brown shot bounced off the top of the cage as the match went into a third sudden-death overtime. A Brown lob with 1:55 on the clock gave the Bears the win.
COACH THOUGHTS
Although disappointed with his squad's first-match performance, Iona head coach Brian Kelly praised the team's effort in a near overtime victory over Brown.
"The first game was our worst game of the season," Kelly said. "Salem's defense can frustrate you, but we didn't do a lot things, and we did not play with intensity. "I was happy with how the girls fought in the second game against a really good Brown team that's having a great season. We needed one more play to pull off a victory in sudden death."
UP NEXT
After Spring Break, Iona begins its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate on Saturday, March 21, 3:00 PM, at Long Island University on Saturday, March 21, then travels to St. Francis Brooklyn for a Sunday 1:00 PM matchup.
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