NEW ROCHELLE, NY — With seven players finding the back of the net, the Iona women’s water polo team notched its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win of the week with a 17-4 win Saturday morning over LaSalle University at Marist College.
Junior Hannah Schultz led Iona (5-7, 2-1 MAAC) with six goals, while junior Megan Hofer and freshman Regan Warmoth scored three each. Junior Kayla Allen hit two goals, and senior Darby Nevins, junior Devika Joshi and sophomore Alyssa Gayapa added one each.
In goal, junior Britten Vilander made 13 saves, two steals and one assist. The Gaels had nine assists with four by Nevins. On defense, the Gaels made 16 steals. Iona drew seven LaSalle kickouts, while being ejected six times. The Gaels scored on two of three man-up opportunities and the Explorers hit one of three.
In the opening two minutes, the Gaels raced out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Allen, Schultz and Gayapa. Allen’s second goal increased Iona’s edge to 4-0 with 3:34 left in the period. La Salle answered with two straight scores to pull within two 4-2 at the 1:41 mark. In the closing minute, Schultz and Hofer gave the Gaels a 6-2 advantage.
With 3:54 left in the second period, Schultz hit her third goal on a 6-5 opportunity, as Iona went up 7-2. The Explorers scored 1:40 later to trim the Gael lead to 7-3. Schultz found the back of the net for her fourth goal with 1:17 left to give Iona an 8-3 halftime advantage.
Nevins scored with 2:07 gone in the third, followed by Schultz’s fifth goal for a 10-3 Gael lead. Joshi upped Iona’s margin to 10-4 with 3:41 left. La Salle answered 24 seconds later, but Warmoth, Schultz, and Hofer scored in the final 2:25 as the Gaels led 14-4 going into the final period.
Warmoth hit two goals in the opening 3:15 of the fourth quarter, followed by Hofer’s third goal 1:31 later to put Iona up 17-4 for the win.
“Things are finally starting to click and we’re playing like a team,” senior co-captain Darby Nevins said. “We’re really excited that MAAC play has started and we’re looking forward to playing Marist tomorrow.”
The Gaels travel to Siena College to take on Marist College at noon on Sunday.