LEXINGTON, VA - The Iona women's water polo program held off VMI for a 14-12 victory in the 2021 season opener. The Gaels were short handed with six players out, but junior Maeve Ellen Wydan stepped up big time scoring four goals and assisting on two others. In net for the Maroon & Gold, junior Cristina Chiappini made eight saves on 32 shots and led the team with five steals.

"I'm proud of the effort. We're way behind most of the country in terms of games played. We were short handed, missing 6 of our women. I was really happy with how many contributions we received from different players on both sides of the pool. Solid team win. Chiappini was solid in net and played a very aggressive game." Said Head Coach Brian Kelly. 

GAME SUMMARY

Just :51 seconds into the game VMI opened the scoring, the next goal of the game would not come for the next minutes until Danielle Hernandez got the Gaels on the board. VMI jumped to a 3-1 lead until Erika Wimmer found the back of the net with :33 second left in the first, for her lone goal of the after, making it 3-2. 

On the Gaels first possession of the second quarter Wydan scored her first of the night to tie it at three. VMI went on another run of two unanswered goals to take a two goal lead but Wydan scored her second to cut the deficit to two with 2:05 left before halftime. VMI would sneak one past Chiappini to make it a two goal game once again. 

Iona would start hotter than the sun in the second half scoring four unanswered goals, two by Aubree Fuher and one by Wydan and Laura Rockett. The Gaels run would not be over as freshman Elizabeth Lovat scored two of her own to make it a 10-6 game. After a VMI goal at 1:07 left in the third Wydan scored her fourth and last of the day just 20 seconds later. VMI would cut their deficit to three with just 20 seconds left in the third quarter. 

VMI was able to cut the Iona lead to one with 6:44 left to play. A minute later Hernadez notched her second of the game to increase the lead to two, not even 19 seconds later VMI made it a one goal game once again. With 3:33 left Rockett came up big to give the Maroon & Gold a two goal lead. VMI would not go away and made it a 13-12 with 20 seconds left to play. Mia Tovar would score her first of the season with :01 second left  to play for a final score of 14-12. 

UP NEXT

The Maroon & Gold are back in action with a double header on Saturday Apr. 10, against Siena and Marist. Games are scheduled to start at 1 & 5 pm.

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