POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – After posting the program's first postseason win in four years yesterday with an 11-8 opening-round win over Mount Saint Mary's University, the Iona University women's water polo team fell to number-one seed and no.18 ranked Wagner College 27-11 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship hosted here this afternoon by Marist College.

GAME SUMMARY

Graduate co-captain Jordan Van Reeken led the Gaels (17-16 overall) with three goals on eight shots and two assists in her final Iona game. Graduate student Karsyn Stewart, also in her final Gaels appearance, junior Kaya Hart and freshman Lola Trujillo scored two goals each. Graduate Sydney Brightenburg, also in her final Iona game, and junior Elizabeth Lovat added one goal apiece. Graduate student Malia Naugle also played her last Iona match, and Mia Tovar made her last appearance as an Iona senior. The Gaels scored eleven goals on 30 shots and made six assists. Trujillo won three of four swim offs.   

Junior goalie Lily Morris made five saves on 28 Wagner shots, one assist and one steal with 25 goals against. Freshman Gabrielle Brozovic faced two Wagner shots and had two goals against late in the fourth period.
On defense, Iona made four steals and junior Amelia Gonzalez blocked one shot. The Gaels drew 13 Seahawks kickouts, including two five-meter ejections, while being ejected 11 times, including four five-meter penalties.  Brightenburg was disqualified with three ejections. Iona scored two goals on 11 woman-up chances, while Wagner capitalized on three of eight opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over 22 times.

The Seahawks scored first with a five-meter penalty shot with 24 ticks gone in the match, then followed with another goal on their next possession for a 2-0 edge with 6:49 remaining in the opening period. Trujillo got Iona on the board to cut the Wagner edge to one 2-1 with 5:07 left. After two straight Wagner scores, Van Reeken answered to slice the Seahawks lead back to two 4-2 with 3:10 to go. In the closing 2:02, three consecutive Wagner scores, including a woman-up goal, gave the Seahawks a 7-2 advantage going into second period.

Wagner opened the second quarter with three more scores until Trujillo's second goal ended a 6-0 Seahawks run to trim their lead to seven 10-7 with 4:43 to go. After Wagner answered with two goals, Stewart's breakaway score assisted by Morris got Iona with eight 12-4 at the 3:03 mark. Following two Seahawks goals with 2:08 left, Brightenburg found the back of the net five seconds later to cut the Wagner cushion back to nine 14-8. Two more Seahawks goals, including a five-meter penalty score, gave Wagner a 16-5 halftime lead.

The Gaels held the Seahawks scoreless for the opening 2:37 of the third period with Stewart's second goal on a woman-up chance got Iona within ten 16-6 with 5:05 remaining. Wagner responded with two straight goals for a 18-6 advantage with 3:51 on the clock. Hart scored with 2:52 left, but Wagner went up 20-7 with two unanswered scores at the 1:34 mark. Twenty-one ticks later, Hart answered with her second score in just over a minute, but another Seahawks goal resulted in a 21-8 Wagner advantage going into the final period.

Following three Wagner scores in the opening 3:51 of the final period, Van Reeken hit her second goal as Wagner led 24-9 with 3:41 left. Wagner scored twice until Lovat's goal with 1:23 remaining. The Seahawks responded with two more goals in the closing minute until Van Reeken's third goal on a five-meter penalty shot.

COACH THOUGHTS

Disappointed with the loss despite intense preparation, Iona head coach Brian Kelly focused on his squad's 22 turnovers as a major factor in the loss. "We preached all week that we needed to play good offense to play good defense," Kelly said. "We didn't give ourselves much of a chance because of turnovers. Our turnovers led to far too many Wagner goals. You have to give a lot of credit to Wagner. They're a great team."

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