A GAEL TIME

Thursday, March 17

Riverside

1:00 PM

California Baptist University

Indiana University

3/18/2011 12:45:00 AM | Women's Water Polo

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The Lancers have faced nine teams that have been ranked inside the CWPA top-20 coaches poll this season, and until today had yet to post a win over a ranked opponent. CBU, who has been on the precipice of the top-20 rankings, defeated No. 20 Iona College (N.Y.) 10-9 thanks to clutch defense and four goals by Petra Kovacs.

Christina Webb had six goals on the day (three in each match) and five steals as CBU improves to 15-8 on the year. Prior to the win, CBU lost 11-6 to No. 13 Indiana in a game that got away from CBU late.

In the first match Indiana (11-9) opened the scoring with a 6-on-5 goal by Nicole Redder at 5:20 in the first to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.

Mallory Montano then tied it with a right corner shot at 4:11 to even it at 1-1, but the tie wouldn't last long. Jakie Kohli 's first score of the match gave the Hoosiers a brief 2-1 advantage before Christina Webb knotted it a 2-2.

Kylie Chevalier gave CBU its first lead of the game with a 6-on-5 goal, the team's third score with an Indiana player ejected. The Hoosiers responded with two goals by Kohli, giving her a first half hat trick as Indiana headed into the break up 4-3

The second half began as the first ended: with an IU goal. Lauren Wyckoff's fast break lob over Camryn Rogers gave Indiana a two-score lead to open the third quarter. With 4:10 on the clock Webb notched her second goal of the game to bring the Lancers within one, but Indiana's Shae Fournier quickly brought the lead back to two.

The Hoosiers got two more goals to extend their lead to four as Kovacs (the nation's No. 2 scorer; 51 goals) received her third ejection---excluding her for the rest of the match. Kovacs was seemingly non-existent, scoring zero goals on two attempts while giving up three turnovers.

Emily Allen registered her first goal of the day with just a minute left in the third quarter to keep CBU within striking distance at 5-8.

Then to open the fourth Webb found the back of the net, giving the sophomore her sixth hat trick of the season. But the Hoosiers rattled off three straight scores to end the game with an 11-6 win.

Rogers tallied 13 saves in the match, including a 5-meter block, but the Lancers couldn't capitalize; notching their third lowest-scoring game of the season. Chevalier dished out three assists, while Montano drew five ejections in CBU's second home loss of the year.

After beginning the match converting three straight 6-on-5 situations the Lancers scored just once in their last five attempts. Indiana converted only three of nine power plays in the game.

The second game faired much better for the Lancers as they faced an Iona team they are 4-1 over in the series history.

CBU began the game on fire, taking control in the opening minutes thanks to a Webb's fourth score of the day. Two possessions later she gave the Lancers another before Petra Kovacs registered her first goal of the game.

The women led 3-0 just two minutes into the game and looked poised for the upset. But the Gaels responded with three straight scores following a timeout, showing the Lancers they'd need to work for this one.

After both teams alternated failed possessions, Kovacs broke the stalemate with her second goal just prior to a game-tying score by Iona's Cecilia Leonard and go-ahead goal from Alyssa Turza.

The lead didn't last long however, as Webb posted her second hat trick on Thursday to even the score at 5-5. Alyssa Birch then got the ball by goalie Kathleen Link to end the half with the Lancers ahead 6-5.

To open the second half Morgan Barrows had a goal wiped away after she was called for being within 2 meters. Iona then capitalized, with help from a CBU ejection, to match the score at sixes. A few minutes later Kovacs tallied her third goal of the match to give the home team a 7-6 lead.

Molly Gritchen helped to give the Lancers a little breathing room at 8-6 with her first score. Iona attempted to respond but Rogers stopped the Gael attack, blocking two close range shots in a half-minute span with the Lancers down a player.

Kovacs widened the gap with her fourth goal, but Turza hit the back of the net to bring Iona back within two at 9-7. Iona got another goal from Leonard to bring the Lancers within one, but Gritchen countered to keep the Gaels at bay.

Then, with just a minute to play, Leonard got her fourth goal of the match to tighten the game up at 10-9 CBU. And with 30 seconds left the Gaels had the ball and got off a good shot, but Kristen Post (who came in for Rogers after she got her second ejection) blocked it, sealing the Lancers fourth win in five games and first over a top-20 team in 2011. Post had three saves in the fourth quarter and four in the game.

On top of her four scores, Kovacs added three assists, while Birch had four steals. The Lancers were three of six in 6-on-5 situations as Iona finished two for nine.

CBU will face off another tough test tomorrow at the Lancer Invitational as the women square off with Maryland.