Iona Defeats Villanova in 2016 MAAC Water Polo Championship Consolation Game
MAAC Sports
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Third seeded Iona College defeated the fourth seeded Villanova University, 9-7, in the consolation contest of the 2016 MAAC Water Polo Championship.
Senior Driver and All-MAAC First Team Selection Naomi Ng quickly got Villanova on the board with an early goal in the first period to give the Wildcats the lead over the Gaels. Iona answered back with two goals of their own to take their first advantage of the game at 2-1. With just seconds remaining in the period, Junior Driver Sheila Gerrity scored a goal at the buzzer for Villanova to knot up the match at 2-2. The Wildcats would gain an early 3-2 lead in the second period, but Iona would overcome the slim deficit and go into the half leading Villanova, 6-4.
Iona scored the first goal of the half, but Villanova’s Senior Driver Lizzie Newman would answer by scoring the lone goal for the Wildcats in the third making the score, 7-5 heading into the final period. In the fourth and final period the Wildcats would cut the deficit to one point twice in the frame at 7-6 and 8-7, but Iona would get the final and game clinching goal from Rebecca Mathews giving the Gaels the 9-7 victory.
The 2016 MAAC Championship Game will be played between first seeded Wagner College and second seeded Marist College at 2PM live on MAAC.TV.