SANTA BARBARA, CA  -  The Iona women's water polo team opened the 2022 season today with two hard-fought losses to two ranked teams – Princeton University and Indiana University - at the Winter Invite this weekend hosted by the University of California Santa Barbara.

# 19 Princeton 12 Iona 9

Despite a one-goal lead in the third period, Iona failed to rally in the final quarter and fell 12-9 to no. 19 -ranked Princeton in the season opener. Senior Maeve Ellen Wydan led the Gaels with three goals on five shots, while graduate student Danielle Hernandez and sophomore Kaya Hart had two scores each. Graduate student Jordan van Reeken and senior Malia Naugle scored one goal each. Iona scored nine goals on 26 shots and four assists.

In goal, freshman Mary Jane Bailey made six saves on 21 Princeton shots and three steals with 12 goals against.  In an exhibition match on Thursday, the Gaels defeated Occidental College 18-7 in the first women's water polo match in the school's new aquatic facility. Bailey's parents both participated in the match - mother Beth as the Occidental assistant coach and father Jeff as an official.

On defense, Iona made five steals and blocked two shots. Iona drew five Tigers kick outs with two by graduate student Laura Rockett, while being ejected nine times. The Gaels turned the ball over seven times. Iona scored one of six man-up chances, while Princeton scored five goals on nine chances. After Princeton opened the match with two straight scores, Hart put Iona on the board to trim the Tigers lead to 2-1 with 3:35 left in the first period. Three more goals in the closing 2:27 put Princeton up 5-1 going into the second quarter. 

Iona outscored Princeton 4-1 in the second period. Hernandez's two consecutive goals got Iona within two 5-3 with 5:34 left. After the Tigers answered, Naugle cut the Princeton edge to two 6-4 at the 4:57 mark. With Wydan's first goal with 2:11 remaining, Iona trailed by one 6-5 at halftime.

The Gaels continued a 3-0 run into the third period with Wydan and Hart scoring their second goals to tie the match then take a 7-6 lead with 5:11 on the clock. A Princeton score ten seconds later re-tied the match at seven. After senior Karsyn Stewart missed a five-meter penalty shot, Princeton regained the advantage 8-7 with 1:27 to go. On a 3-0 rally, the Tigers scored with 25 ticks left for a two-goal edge 9-7 going into the final period. 

With 1:10 gone in the fourth quarter, Wydan's third goal on a cross-cage five-meter shot cut the Tigers lead back to one 9-8. On their next two possessions, Princeton scored for a three-goal 11-8 edge with 4:50 left.  Van Reeken trimmed the Princeton advantage back to two 11-9 with 1:58 on the clock, but a Tigers score with 26 seconds left sealed  their win.

# 11 Indiana 18 Iona 8 

Down only four goals going into the second half, the Gaels failed to keep up with a speedy countering no. 11-ranked Indiana University squad which resulted in a 18-8 loss in today's second match. Van Reeken led Iona with three goals, while Mia Tovar scored twice. Naugle, Wydan and freshman Nikki Salerno. Iona scored eight goals on 32 shots and had two assists.

In goal, Bailey made seven saves on 26 Indiana shots, including stopping a five-meter penalty shot, and two steals with 18 goals against. On defense, Iona made seven steals and blocked one shot. Iona drew 12 Hoosiers kick outs with five by van Reeken, while being ejected six times. Naugle was disqualified with three ejections.  The Gaels turned the ball over ten times. Iona scored one goal out of 11 man-up chances, while Indiana scored four goals on six chances.
 
Just 25 seconds into the match, Indiana got on the board first, but Naugle knotted the score at one each with 6:22 left in the first period. The Hoosiers reeled off three straight goals until van Reeken's five-meter penalty shot trimmed the Indiana lead to 4-2 with 4:08 to go. On the Gaels next possession, Tovar got Iona within one 4-3 at the 3:34 mark. In the final minute, the Hoosiers answered with two straight scores for a 6-3 edge going into the second period. With 3:38 gone in the second quarter, Salerno's first Gael goal got Iona within two 6-4.
  
After three unanswered Hoosiers goals, Tovar's second score pulled Iona back with four 9-5 at intermission. Van Reeken's second score with 5:13 to go in the third period trimmed the Indiana lead back to three 9-6.  But the Hoosiers answered on their next four trips down the pool for a 13-6 advantage with 2:38 on the clock.   Thirty-five seconds later, Bailey blocked an Indiana five-meter penalty shot, then the Hoosiers scored with 45 ticks left for a 14-6 advantage at the start of the final period.

Wydan scored with 1:01 gone in the fourth quarter, but the Hoosiers answered on their next possession for a 15-7 advantage at the 6:02 mark. Following van Reeken's third goal with 5:16 remaining, Indiana scored three straight goals for the win.

COACH THOUGHTS

Despite the losses, Iona head coach Brian Kelly was pleased with his team's performance against two top-20 teams with solid offensive and defensive play.

"We're excited to open the season against three top-20 teams," Kelly said. "We made a lot of good plays on both sides of the pool today. I thought we had a chance to win the first game which came down to fourth quarter execution. We're going to learn a lot from this weekend."

UP NEXT

On Sunday, Iona faces no. 16 San Jose State University at 1:30 p.m. PT and Ottawa Arizona University at 4:30 p.m. PT.

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