EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 18, 2023) – Six goals in the fourth quarter helped Mount St. Mary's women's water polo come back on the Iona Gaels for their first win in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Saturday. A similar comeback effort against the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers fell one goal short as the Mountaineers split day one of two at Marist.
 
For the season, the Mount is 9-5 (1-1 MAAC).
 
Annefleur ten Bloemendal had the most goals on the day with six, five coming against the Terriers. Rebecca Valentine was instrumental in the Iona comeback with a hat trick. Pip Piper started both games in the cage, logging 18 saves.
 
The Mount fell behind 5-2 at halftime in the game with the Gaels. Tough defense posted a third quarter shutout. Robyn Currie scored twice, and Ana Luisa Cotta converted a penalty to keep the Mount in it at a 5-3 deficit. Two of three Valentine goals came in the fourth quarter as the Mount rallied to tie. The game-winner was ten Bloemendal's lone score, feeding a Heather Lock pass into the back of the net.
 
Finding themselves trailing at the half 7-4 against Brooklyn, the Mountaineers pieced together another comeback try with seven second half goals. However, the defense was not as stingy with the Terriers, who scored four times in the third period, which proved too high of a bar to overcome.  
 
Mount St. Mary's completes their weekend at Marist with a Sunday (Mar. 19) game against the hosting Red Foxes.
 
Mount St. Mary's 9, Iona 8
 
Team                 1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's     1    1    1    6
Iona                 2    3    0    1     
 
Goals: Valentine 3, Currie 2, Cotta 2, ten Bloemendal 1, Lock 1

Saves: Piper 10
 
St. Francis Brooklyn 12, Mount St. Mary's 11
 
Team                  1    2    3    4
Mount St. Mary's      2    2    3    4
St. Francis Brooklyn  4    3    4    1
 
Goals: ten Bloemendal 5, Lock 2, Kegel 2, Valentine 1, Davis 1  
 
Saves: Piper 8