PRINCETON, NJ – In a rematch of January 23rd's 12–5 road loss to the Crimson, the Iona women's water polo team fell 15–5 to 13th-ranked (tie) Harvard University this afternoon at the 2026 Princeton Invite, hosted by Princeton University at DeNunzio Pool this weekend.
GAME SUMMARY
Down just 5–3 at halftime, the Gaels managed only two goals the rest of the match. Senior Sadie Sallas led the Maroon and Gold (2–4 overall) with three goals on nine shots, while sophomore Olivia Weissman and freshman Fiona Rowe had one goal apiece. The Gaels scored five goals on 35 shots, with one assist by Rowe.
In goal, freshman MJ Metzdorf had six saves on 25 Harvard shots, including stopping a five-meter penalty shot, with one steal and 15 goals against. On defense, the Gaels made 10 steals, with four by sophomore Bailey Desmond.
The Gaels blocked three shots. Iona drew eight Harvard kickouts while being ejected 11 times, including two five-meter penalties. Trujillo won two of four swim-offs. Iona scored one goal on eight woman-up chances. The Gaels committed five turnovers.
Off of Trujillo's opening swim-off win, Sallas put Iona on the board 1–0 with 24 seconds gone in the opening quarter. Harvard tied the game at one with 4:58 left. Just 1:21 later, the Crimson went up 2–1. A minute after that, Harvard took a two-goal, 3–1 lead going into the second period.
After Metzdorf stopped a five-meter penalty shot, Harvard continued a 4–0 run to go up 4–1 with 4:55 gone in the second quarter. Capitalizing on a woman-up chance, Rowe sliced the Harvard lead to two, 4–2, with 2:18 remaining. On the Gaels' next 6-on-5 chance, Sallas' second score pulled Iona within one, 4–3, with 1:28 left. Harvard answered 21 ticks later to take a 5–3 lead into halftime.
With two straight goals, Harvard mounted a four-score, 7–3 edge with 5:07 remaining in the third period. Weissman found the back of the net to cut the Crimson lead back to three, 7–4, just 17 ticks later. Harvard answered with two straight scores to mount a five-goal, 9–4 advantage with 2:50 on the clock.
Sallas' hat trick got the Gaels back within four, 9–5, just 26 ticks later, but the Crimson finished the quarter with a five-meter penalty goal for a 10–5 lead going into the final period. Harvard sealed the win with five straight goals in the fourth period, while Iona failed to score.
UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Gaels travel to Villanova University for the 2026 Wildcat Invite for three non-conference road matches. On Saturday, Iona takes on host Villanova at 2:15 p.m. ET and La Salle University at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, Iona faces Gannon University at 1:45 p.m.
