BROOKLYN, NY- The Iona College women’s water polo team headed to St. Francis Thursday evening, where they took an 11-8 win against the Terriers.
Sophomore Rebecca Koshy and junior Rebecca Mathews led the Gaels in the win with four and three goals, respectively. Freshman Hannah Schultz found the back of the net for two, while senior Monica Stiles and freshman Karli Normand each took one. Junior Dana Delucchi took the win, playing all four periods, with eleven saves.
Just 1:28 into the match, Mathews strikes the first goal of the match. St. Francis answered with two before Schultz tied the remainder of the period at 2:16 left on the clock.
The Gaels took four goals for the second period, with Iona making the first goal coming from Koshy. The Terriers took two back to back after Koshy, but Iona struck back when Normand scored with 5:49 left in the period, followed by Mathews with another, just 56 seconds later. St. Francis managed one more for the period with two minutes remaining, but Stiles pulled the last at 25 seconds left on the clock. The team took the first half leaving the score close 6-5.
In the third period, the teams went back and forth with goals. Koshy, again making the first strike but St. Francis came back with one. Mathews found the back of the net before the Terriers took the last of the period. The score remained close but in Iona’s favor at 8-7.
Starting off the last period was Schultz, with her second of the game. The Gaels had two more goals, both from Koshy, before St. Francis made the last goal at one second left, leaving the final score 11-8, Iona.
“We had a sloppy first three quarters with far too many turnover and offensive fouls, Coach Brian Kelly commented. “Credit Dana Delucchi with keeping us in the lead. We were really shorthanded tonight missing key players. The girls who played really stepped up. Especially in the fourth.”
The team will travel to Villanova Saturday, Apr. 4, for contests against Siena at 12:00 pm and Marist at 5:30pm.