EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 12, 2022) – Playing their 20^th and 21^st games as a program, Mount St. Mary's women's water polo proved once again they can contend with more established teams in the nation. However, the finishes came up short in both occasions Saturday as St. Francis Brooklyn and Iona forged comebacks to steal victories from the Mountaineers.  
 
Sophomore Ana Luisa Cotta – last year's leading goal scorer – paced the Mount with eight goals scored. Keeper Samantha Bright stayed busy in net with 24 saves, including a penalty against the Terriers.
 
St. Francis Brooklyn 12, Mount St. Mary's 11
 
Team                    1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's        0    3    6    2
St. Francis Brooklyn    3    2    0    7
 
Mount St. Mary's Goals: Cotta 5, Valentine 2, Van Kerckhove 2, Currie 1, Sanders 1  
 
The Terries put the Mount in an early hole with a first quarter shutout. Cotta stalled the shutout with 5:44 in the second, then tallied another score one minute later. St. Francis Brooklyn held onto their advantage, 5-3, as the game entered halftime.
 
Mount St. Mary's made their move at the start of the second half. Emily Van Kerckhove and Cotta posted two goals each as the Mountaineers went ahead 6-5 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. They would add three more while blanking St. Francis to post a 9-5 score after three. But a 5-0 run – including three goals in the space of 1:22 – sent the lead back to the Terriers. Rebecca Valentine sent one home to tie, but Anja Miskovic's goal with 25 ticks on the clock put St. Francis Brooklyn up for good.
 
Iona 12, Mount St. Mary's 8
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     3    1    2    2
Iona                 2    0    5    5
 
Mount St. Mary's Goals: Valentine 4, Cotta 3, Davis 1  
 
Determined to press forward following the setback, Mount St. Mary's pieced together another solid first half. Cotta topped off two goals from Valentine to see the Mount go ahead, followed by Mara Davis and her third goal of the year in the second quarter.
 
The Gaels responded with a huge third quarter, tying the score at five before going up on a goal with 1:24 left by Amelia Gonzalez. That burst proved to be the momentum shifter as Iona replicated their five goal third in the fourth to storm away and take the win.
 
This weekend wraps up with Villanova and LIU Sunday.