NEW ROCHELLE – After trailing by only two goals at the end of the first period, the Iona women's water polo program fell 17-10 to Marist College this evening in a Metro Athletic Conference match at Hynes Center Pool.

Junior Maeve Ellen Wydan led the Maroon & Gold with four goals and one blocked shot, while freshmen Kaya Hart and Amelia Gonzales added two scores each. Seniors Laura Rockett and Erika Wimmer scored one goal apiece. Iona scored ten goals on 37 shots and made four assists with two by junior Malia Naugle.

In goal, senior Kate Schmitt had seven saves and two steals. On defense, Iona made ten steals with two from senior Aubree Fuher, who won all four swim offs. Iona scored three goals on 12 man-up chances, while Marist capitalized on four of eight opportunities. The Gaels forced 12 Red Foxes kickouts, while being ejected eight times, including four five-meter penalties. Iona turned the ball over 18 times.

GAME SUMMARY

With 47 seconds gone in the match, Marist scored on a 6-5 advantage to begin a 4-0 run including a five-meter penalty shot for a four-goal edge with 4:19 remaining. Nine ticks later, Wydan put Iona on the board, then scored her second goal on the Maroon & Gold's next possession to cut the visitors' lead to 4-2 with 2:25 left. After Marist buried another five-meter penalty shot, Hart scored on a 6-5 chance to pull Iona within two 5-3 with 57 seconds to go in the first period.

The Red Foxes went up three only 58 ticks into the second period, then hit a five-meter penalty shot with 3:15 on the clock for a 7-3 lead. Wydan's third score at the 2:52 mark chopped the Marist advantage to three 7-4. The visitors scored with 32 seconds left for an 8-4 halftime edge.

After Marist scored with 1:23 gone in the third period, Rockett got the Gaels back within four 9-5 with 5:43 remaining.   Following another Red Foxes goal, Gonzales found the back of the net to trim the Marist lead back to four 10-6. But the visitors answered with a 3-0 streak for a 13-6 advantage going into the final period.

The Red Foxes scored their fourth straight score with 4:44 left in regulation, then Wimmer answered for the Gaels just 14 seconds later to cut the visitors' edge to 14-7. Two straight Marist scores put the Red Foxes backup nine with 2:05 to go. With goals from Hart, Gonzales and Wyndan, Iona outscored Marist 3-1 in the final 1:50 as the Gael rally fell short.

COACH THOUGHTS

Iona head coach was disappointed in his squad's performance at both ends of the pool, but praised Schmitt, who is guarding the net in place of injured junior goalie Cristina Chiappini. "We missed a lot of the easy shots and their goaltender played well - that's a bad combination," Kelly said. "Defensively, we're not nearly as close as we need to be. I applaud the effort of Kate Schmitt who is playing out of position in goal."

UP NEXT

The Gaels head north on Saturday for a rematch with Marist in Poughkeepsie at 10 a.m., then face Siena College in Loudonville at 4 p.m. On Sunday, Iona hosts Virginia Military Institute at 10:30 a.m., and Long Island University at 2 p.m. to conclude the regular season.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Water Polo: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)

Tweet #GaelNation
Tweet #ICWP
Tweet #MAACWP