POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Returning to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship for the first time since 2019, the fourth-seeded Iona University women's water polo team outscored fifth-seeded Mount Saint Mary's University 9-5 in the second half for 11-8 win this afternoon at Marist College to face number-one seeded Wagner College tomorrow in a semi-final match.

GAME SUMMARY

In a match that featured five ties and four lead changes, graduate co-captain Jordan Van Reeken (9 shots) and junior Amelia Gonzalez (four shots) led the Gaels (17-15 overall, 7-6 MAAC) with three goals apiece. Graduate co-captain Malia Naugle, junior Kaya Hart, freshman Jenna Handali, freshman Sadie Sallas and freshman Lola Trujillo scored one goal apiece. The Gaels scored 11 goals on 30 shots and made seven assists with two from Trujillo, who won all four swim offs.   

Junior goalie Lily Morris made seven saves on 16 Mount Saint Mary shots and one steal with eight goals against. On defense, Iona made 13 steals with three by Hart and blocked one shot. The Gaels drew nine Mountaineers kickouts, including one five-meter ejection, while being ejected 12 times. Gonzalez was disqualified with three ejections. Iona scored five goals on eight woman-up chances, while Mount Saint Mary's capitalized on three of 11 opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over 17 times.

With 3:04 gone in the match, Handali got the Gaels on the board first for a 1-0 edge. Gonzalez followed up the Iona advantage to two 2-0 with 2:35 to go in the opening quarter. A minute later, The Mount scored on a 6-5 chance to slice Iona's lead back to one 2-1 going into the second period. The Mountains tied the game at two each on a 6-4 advantage just 1:20 into the second period, then took a one-goal lead with 2:52 remaining for a 3-2 halftime edge.  Iona failed to score in the second quarter.

Iona rebounded to outscore Mount Saint Mary's 4-2 in the third quarter. Van Reeken needed only 1:07 into the third period to tie the score at three on a woman-up chance. After a Mountaineers five-meter penalty shot bounced off the right post, The Mount retook the lead 4-3 at the 4:13 mark. Van Reeken's second goal evened the score for the third time at four apiece with 3:40 on the clock. Gonzalez and Allen continued a 3-0 Iona run as the Gaels went up two 6-4 with 1:30 to go. On their next possession with 55 ticks left, The Mountaineers cut the Gaels edge back on one 6-5 going into the final period.

The Mount opened the final quarter with its second unanswered goal to lock the game at six with 39 seconds gone. After Naugle's goal restored a one-goal Iona lead 7-6, the Mount re-tied the game at seven all with 5:16 remaining. Gonzalez answered with her third goal to restore a one-score Gaels lead with 4:50 to go. On Iona's next trip down the pool, Trujillo put the Gaels up two 9-7 with 3:37 remaining. With a 6-5 goal, the Mountaineers got back within one 9-8 with 1:54 left. Just 25 seconds later, Sallas upped the Gaels edge to two 10-8, then Van Reeken found the back of the net on a five-meter penalty shot for her third goal and a three-score Gaels edge 11-8 with 1:02 remaining to seal Iona's first postseason win in four years.

COACH THOUGHTS

Despite his squad's "really bad" first-half effort, Iona head coach Brian Kelly praised the second-half turnaround that resulted in nine goals. "This is a great win for us," Kelly said. "We overcame a really bad offensive first half. We were extremely impatient on offense in the first half and we weren't letting play develop.  We turned it around in the second half, moved the ball well, found the open player and scored nine goals in the second half."

UP NEXT

The Gaels look upset number-one seeded Wagner College in tomorrow's first semi-final match at 1 p.m.

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