ANN ARBOR, MI – Sweeping two previous opponents, the Iona women's water polo team recorded two non-conference wins – a 9-8 upset of no. 25-ranked Bucknell University and narrow 12-11 win against St. Francis University (PA) - here in the Wolverine Invite hosted by the University of Michigan.

Iona 9  #25 Bucknell 8

Going into the fourth quarter leading 7-5, Iona allowed a 3-0 Bucknell run, but rallied with two straight goals in the closing 3:43 for a 9-8 upset win over the no. 25-ranked Bisons to avenge a 10-7 loss on Feb. 11 at the Princeton Invite.

Graduate student Laura Rockett led the Maroon & Gold with three goals on four shots, including the game winner, while graduate student Jordan van Reeken scored two.  Senior Maeve Ellen Wydan, senior Malia Naugle, sophomore Amelia Gonzalez and freshman Kaya Hart had one goal apiece. Iona scored nine goals on 26 shots and made nine assists with two each from Wydan, Naugle, freshman goalie Mary Jane Bailey and Hart. 

In goal, Bailey made 11 saves on 28 Bucknell shots with eight goals against, one steal and two assists. On defense, Iona made eight steals with two by van Reeken and blocked three shots. Iona drew nine kickouts with four by Rockett, including one converted five-meter penalty shot, while being ejected nine times. The Gaels turned the ball over six times. Iona scored five goals on nine man-up chances, while Bucknell scored two goals on nine man-up opportunities.

With 2:01 gone in the match, Wydan put Iona on the board for a 1-0 Iona lead. Rockett's first goal with 1:53 left upped the Gaels edge to two 2-0 going into the second period. The Bisons finally scored with 3:43 gone in the second period to trim the Gaels margin to one 2-1, then tied the game at one on their next possession just 29 ticks later. Bucknell took a 3-2 advantage with 2:32 remaining to continue the 3-0 run. Iona failed to score in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, Iona outscored Bucknell 5-2. Hart's man-up goal 1:01 into the third period tied the score for the second time at three each. Another 6-5 goal by Rockett put Iona back on top 4-3 with 4:56 left in the third period.  After van Reeken hit Iona's third straight man-up score, Bucknell answered to pull within one 5-4 at the 2:23 mark.   On the Gaels next chance, senior Karsyn Stewart drew a five-meter penalty and van Reeken buried the free shot for a 6-4 Iona edge. The Bisons scored on their next trip down the pool to pull back with one 6-2 with 1:16 left.  Gonzalez's goal with 13 ticks left gave the Gaels a two-goal 7-5 margin going into the fourth period.

Just 56 seconds into the fourth period, Bucknell capitalized on a man-up chance to chop the Iona lead back to one 7-6, re-tied the match at seven each 5:54 left. After the Bison's third straight score gave Bucknell a one-goal edge 8-7, Naugle answered for the game's fourth tie at eight each with 3:42 on the clock. Rockett's third score with 1:03 left put Iona back up one 9-8 for the win.

Iona 12 St. Francis (PA) 11

Despite leading by six goals in the third period, Iona allowed St. Francis to get within one in the final seconds, but held on for a 12-11 win this afternoon for the Gaels second victory over the Red Flash in three weeks. On Feb. 12, Iona defeated St. Francis 17-11 at the Princeton Invite.

Wydan led the Gaels with four goals on six shots, while Gonzalez scored twice. Graduate student Danielle Hernandez, van Reeken, Rockett, Naugle, Stewart and senior Sydney Brightenburg scored one goal each. Iona scored 12 goals on 31 shots and made ten assists with two each from van Reeken, Naugle and Hart. In goal, freshman Mary Jane Bailey made 17 saves 33 St. Francis shots with 11 goals against, one steal and one assist.  

On defense, Iona made six steals with two each by Naugle and van Reeken and blocked two shots. Iona drew eleven kickouts with five by van Reeken, while being ejected seven times. The Gaels turned the ball over ten times. Iona scored four goals on 11 man-up chances, while St. Francis scored on two of six. 

The Red Flash needed just 50 seconds to get on the board for a 1-0 edge, but Hernandez's breakaway goal 1:21 later tied the match at one with 5:49 left in the opening period. St. Francis went back up one 2-1, but Stewart evened the score at two all with 1:47 remaining.

With 2:55 gone in the second period, St. Francis regained a one-goal lead 3-2, then van Reeken's skip shot re-tied the match at three each with 3:18 left. Wydan capitalized on a man-up chance as Iona took the lead 4-3 at the 2:30 mark. Gonzalez followed just 45 ticks later to put Iona up two 5-3, then found the back of the net again on the Gaels next possession to continue a 4-0 Gaels run for a 6-3 halftime lead.
St. Francis scored just 57 seconds into the third period to trim the Iona edge to two 6-4, but Wydan's second goal restored Iona's three-goal edge 7-4 on the Gaels next chance. Wydan hit her third goal on a five-meter penalty shot with 5:18 to go for an 8-4 Iona cushion. Iona goals from Naugle and Rockett continued a 4-0 run for a 10-4 Gaels lead at the 4:02 mark. The Red Flash responded with four straight goals to cut the Gaels margin back to two 10-8 with ten seconds remaining in the third period.

After Wydan's fourth score put Iona back up three 11-8, St. Francis answered to pull back within two 11-9 with 4:22 remaining. With Brightenburg's man-up goal, Iona regained a three-goal edge 12-9, but another St. Francis' goal trimmed the Gaels lead to two 12-10 with 2:31 on the clock. Pulling its goalie, St. Francis scored with 39 ticks left to trail by one 12-11. After the Gaels froze the ball, the Red Flash regained possession with four seconds on the clock, but Bailey tapped away a last-second St. Francis shot to preserve the victory.

COACH THOUGHTS

Iona head coach Brian Kelly was pleased with his squad's performance in today's two wins, particularly on defense.
"It was an excellent defensive game for us led by M.J. Bailey, Jordan van Reeken and Malia Naugle," Kelly said. "M.J. Bailey was outstanding with 28 saves in two games. Jordan van Reeken was all over the pool drawing seven exclusions having four steals in two games. Malia Naugle was also a big key to our defense allowing zero goals out of center in two games."  

UP NEXT

The Gaels travel to Lexington, VA, on Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20, to begin their 2022 Metro Atlantic Conference schedule. On March 19, Iona faces LaSalle University at 2 p.m.  On Sunday, Iona takes on Villanova University at 11 a.m., and host Virginia Military Institute at 3 p.m.

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