VILLANOVA, PA  – After a weather-related cancellation of today's match against Harvard University, the Iona women's water polo team notched its second season win 21-14 over Villanova University this afternoon in a non-conference game at the Villanova Invite.

GAME SUMMARY

Senior Maeve Wydan led Iona with a career-high six goals on seven shots, while graduate student Jordan van Reeken had five goals on eight shots. Graduate student Danielle Hernandez, senior Malia Naugle, senior Sydney Brightenburg and sophomore Kaya Hart added two goals each. Graduate student Laura Rockett and sophomore Amelia Gonzalez. scored one goal apiece. The Gaels scored 21 goals on 37 shots and made 12 assists with three each from Hernandez and Naugle.

In goal, freshman Mary Jane Bailey made 15 saves on 31 Villanova shots with 14 goals against. On defense, Iona made 11 steals with three by Gonzalez and blocked four shots with two by Gonzalez. Iona drew six Wildcats kickouts and five five-meter penalty shots with three by junior Mia Tovar, while being ejected 11 times. Rockett was disqualified with three ejections. The Gaels turned the ball over nine times. Iona scored two of six man-up chances, while Villanova scored four goals on 11 chances.

Hart needed only 33 seconds to put Iona on the board on its first possession for a 1-0 edge, but Villanova answered on a five-meter 52 ticks later to tie the match at one goal each.  On the Gaels next trip down the pool, van Reeken restored Iona's one-goal margin 2-1, until the Wildcats got back within one 3-2 only 16 seconds later. Villanova hit two straight goals, including a five-meter penalty shot, to tie the game at four each with 1:26 remaining. The Gaels retook the lead 5-4 on van Reeken's last-second shot as time expired.

In the second quarter, the Gaels outscored the hosts 4-2.  After Villanova tied the score at five with ten seconds gone, Wydan's first goal put Iona back up by one 6-3 just 14 seconds later, then she followed with another score with 5:47 left for a 7-5 Gael cushion. Wydan's third goal of the quarter on a five-meter penalty shot gave the Gaels a three-goal 8-5 edge with 4:12 to go. With 37 seconds left, the Wildcats cut the Gaels halftime edge to 8-6.

With 38 seconds gone in the third period, Hernandez's second goal followed by van Reeken fourth gave Iona a four-goal 10-7 advantage with 6:44 remaining. After another Wildcat goal scored and missed a five-meter penalty shot, Wydan's fourth goal put back up four 11-7 with 5:54 on the clock. Villanova cut the Iona lead back to three 11-8 only 22 seconds later. Three straight Gaels goals – one from Rockett and two from Wydan - upped the Iona margin to six 14-8 with 3:06 left. Brightenburg's five-meter penalty score continued a 4-0 Gael run until Villanova trimmed the Iona lead back to six 15-9 with 2:03 left. With a minute left, Hart's second goal put Iona up seven 16-9. The Wildcats answered 20 ticks later, but Gonzalez found the back of the net with 25 seconds to go for a 17-10 Gaels advantage going into the final period.

Naugle gave Iona an eight-goal edge with 1:01 gone in the fourth period. After a Villanova man-up score, Naugle's backhand goal upped the Iona lead to eight 19-11 with 5:29 remaining. The hosts scored on a man-up chance on their next possession, then two straight Gaels scores by van Reeken and Brightenburg gave Iona nine goal 21-12 advantage at the 3:29 mark. Two straight Villanova goals in the closing 2:28 trimmed Iona's final lead to seven 21-14.

COACH THOUGHTS

Iona head coach Brian Kelly was pleased with his squad's performance against a "very good" Villanova team, particularly Bailey's play in goal.

"Always nice to get a W against a very good team," Kelly said. "M.J. Bailey had an excellent game."

UP NEXT

The Gaels travel to Princeton next weekend to face Bucknell University at 7 p.m., Friday; St. Francis (PA) at 2:45 p.m. Saturday; and Mount Saint Mary's (Maryland) at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, in the Princeton Invite.

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