ANN ARBOR, MI - After dropping today's opening match against number-seven ranked host University of Michigan, the Iona women's water polo team won a close contest against Salem International University this afternoon in the Wolverine Invitational at the Donald B. Canham Natatorium.

Michigan #7 17 Iona 6

Failing to score until 1:44 gone in the second period, Iona fell 17-6 to host nationally ranked Michigan this morning in today's first match. Graduate students Laura Rockett and Jordan van Reeken led the Maroon & Gold with two scores, while senior Sydney Brightenburg and sophomore Amelia Gonzalez had one goal each. Iona scored six goals on 28 shots and made three assists with two by senior Maeve Ellen Wydan.

In goal, freshman Mary Jane Bailey made four saves on 23 Michigan shots with 14 goals against. In the fourth period, sophomore Lilly Morris had two saves on five Michigan shots and three goals against. On defense, Iona made eight steals with two by junior Mia Tovar. Iona drew 12 kickouts, including one five-meter penalty shot, while being ejected six times.  The Gaels turned the ball over six times. Iona scored four goals on 13 man-up chances, while Michigan scored three goals on three man-up opportunities and three five-meter penalty goals.

On three straight goals on their first three possessions, the Wolverines took a 3-0 lead with two minutes gone in the match. Michigan tacked on another unanswered goal with 2:45 remaining for 4-0 advantage going into the second period. The Gaels failed to score in the first period despite two man-up chances.

After Michigan scored on a five-meter penalty shot with 1:44 gone in the second period, Rockett put Iona on the board and sliced the home edge to four 5-1 with 5:55 to go. The Wolverines answered on their next trip down the pool, but van Reeken's man-up goal got the Gaels back within four 6-2 just 19 ticks later. Two consecutive Michigan scores in the closing 3:54, including a five-meter penalty goal, gave the Wolverines an 8-2 halftime edge.

With 1:38 gone in the third period, Rockett's second goal on a 6-5 advantage cut the Michigan margin back to five 8-3.  Following two Michigan scores on consecutive possessions, Gonzalez found the back of the net to pull Iona within six 10-4 with 2:27 to go. Another home goal with 57 seconds left gave the Wolverines a 11-4 lead going into the final period.

In the fourth period, Michigan hit five straight goals until Brightenburg's goal with 1:34 left trimmed the home advantage to 16-5 with 1:34 left. Following another home score, van Reeken drew a five-meter penalty, then buried the free shot at the 22-second mark.

Iona 13 Salem 12

For the second time in a week, Iona defeated Salem 13-12 on a buzzer-beating, man-up goal by sophomore Kaya Hart in a match featuring seven ties and two lead changes. Wydan and Hart led the Gaels with three goals each, while graduate student Danielle Hernandez, and van Reeken scored two goals each. Rockett, senior Malia Naugle Gonzalez had one score each. Iona scored 13 goals on 37 shots with five assists with two from Wydan.

In goal, freshman Mary Jane Bailey made 14 saves on 32 Salem shots with 12 goals against and two steals. On defense, Iona made nine steals with two each from van Reeken, Rockett and Gonzalez. Iona drew seven Salem kickouts, including two five-meter penalty shots, while being ejected 12 times. The Gaels turned the ball over three times.  Iona scored seven goals on all seven man-up chances, including Hart's game-winning goal, while Salem scored four goals on 12 man-up opportunities.

Van Reeken needed only 1:44 into the match to put Iona on the board for a 1-0 lead. She then drew a five-meter penalty, which Wydan converted for a 2-0 Iona edge with 5:40 to go in the first period. After the Eagles answered, Naugle restored the Gaels two-goal margin 3-1 at the 4:36 mark.

Salem pulled within one 3-2 with just 40 ticks gone in the second period, then tied the game at two 55 seconds later.   Hernandez put Iona back on top by one with 5:08 left, but Salem knotted the score at three each on its next trip down the pool. With Wydan's second goal on the Gaels next possession, Iona regained a one-goal edge at the 4:17 mark for a 5-4 halftime lead. Neither squad scored until 5:13 gone in the third period until the Eagles forced the match's third tie at five each. With 3:55 remaining, Hernandez's man-up goal put Iona back up one, but Salem answered its next trip down the pool for a six-all tie.  

Another Eagles goal gave Salem its first lead 7-6 with 1:51 left. In the closing 1:30, the Gaels mounted a 3-0 run on goals by van Reeken, Gonzalez and Hart for a two-goal 9-7 edge at the buzzer. The Eagles opened the fourth period with their own 2-0 rally for the game's sixth tie at nine apiece with 5:06 to go. Just 48 seconds later, Hart's second goal put Iona back up one 10-9. After a Gaels timeout, Rockett's man-up goal restored Iona's two-score advantage 11-9 with 3:45 on the clock. Salem got back within one 11-10, but Wydan's third score on a 6-5 advantage put Iona back up two 12-10 with 1:42 remaining. Forty ticks later, the Eagles sliced the Gaels lead back to one 12-11, then tied the match at 12 with 16 seconds remaining. Just as the game appeared headed for overtime, Hart found the back of the net for the third time with one second left to seal the Iona victory.  

COACH THOUGHTS

"I was very happy with the way we battled today," Kelly said. "We did some very nice things against a team that is trying to win a national championship in Michigan. We had a nice win versus Salem in a game we did not play well.  That's an experienced team that was at the NCAA Championships last year. Anytime you can win a game when you don't play your best is a good character win."   

UP NEXT

On Sunday, the Gaels take on #25 Bucknell University at 9 a.m. and Saint Francis University at 1:30 p.m.

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