VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Marist water polo team split a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) games on Saturday, defeating Iona, the two-time defending MAAC Champions, by a 9-8 decision before falling to Wagner by the same score.

In the first game against Iona, Marist (16-9, 3-1 MAAC) broke a 2-2 deadlock after the first quarter with a three-goal second period to take a 5-4 lead at the midway point. The one-goal lead stood the rest of the way. Ellie Hoffman (Pasadena, Calif.) scored a team-high three goals and added an assist while Shelby Rinker (Lansdale, Pa.) also had four points on two goals and two assists. Jessica Hamby (Sacramento, Calif.), Robyn Crabtree (Cutler Bay, Fla.) and Anna-Lena Hathaway (Pasadena, Calif.) all contributed a goal and an assist. Rebecca Thomas (Cape Town, South Africa) made 14 saves in goal for the Red Foxes.

Versus Wagner, Hamby, Rinker and Hoffman all scored twice and Hathaway had four assists. Mackenzie Maynes (Newcastle, Wash.) had a goal and two assists and Thomas made another eight saves in net. The Red Foxes trailed 3-0 after the first quarter and 6-2 at halftime before making a late run in the second half.

Marist returns to the pool next weekend when they travel to Providence on Friday for the first day of the Brown Invite. The Red Foxes will play a pair of non-conference games against Brown and Arizona State. They will return to McCann Natatorium on Saturday to host Siena at 10 a.m. and Villanova at 1 p.m. The team will celebrate Senior Day.

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