Tournament: Villanova Invitational
Host: Villanova University
Location: Villanova, Pa. | Villanova Swim Complex
The Short Story: The Gannon women's water polo team opened the season at the Villanova Invitational Saturday at the Villanova Swim Complex. The Lady Knights fell to Iona in the season opener, 17-7, before dropping a 10-8 decision to St. Francis (N.Y.). Freshman Alison Cooney (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) scored five combined goals for the day followed by freshman Francesca Williamson (Chicago, Ill. / Mother McAuley Liberal Arts) with three tallies.
 
THE BASICS: GAME ONE
Score: Iona 17, Gannon 7
Records: Iona (4-4), Gannon (0-1)
 
SCORES BY QUARTER (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - TOTAL)
Gannon (0 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 7)
Iona (4 - 6 - 5 - 2 - 17)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Iona jumped out to a 4-0 lead over Gannon after the first quarter, including a tally in the closing 30 seconds of the opening frame.
- The Lady Knights scored their first goal of the 2015 campaign on a tally by senior Janelle McDaniels (Edwardsville, Pa. / Wyoming Valley West). The Gaels scored five unanswered goals to push their lead to 9-1. The two squads exchanged goals in the final minute before the half. Freshman Kristi Howe (New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln Way Central) scored her first career goal with 43 seconds left before the Gaels answered just 19 seconds later to take a 10-2 lead into the break.
- A flurry of goals welcomed the third quarter with two of the three from the Gaels for a 12-3 lead. The Lady Knights' goal came from Cooney, marking her first career tally.
- Trailing 13-3, Williamson scored her first of two goals in the match. The Gaels scored four of the next five tallies sandwiched between another tally from Williamson to open the fourth quarter.
- Iona tallied a pair of goals separated by less than a minute for a 17-5 lead. Sophomore Kayla Villano (Schnecksville, Pa. / Milford) and freshman Abby Quinn (McKean, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) added a goal each to close the contest for their first career tallies.
- Sophomore Emily Rodriguez (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) recorded eight blocks.
 
GANNON GOALS (7)
Francesca Williamson (2)
Alison Cooney (1)
Janelle McDaniels (1)
Kristi Howe (1)
Abby Quinn (1)
Kayla Villano (1)
 
GANNON BLOCKS (8)
Emily Rodriguez (8)
 
THE BASICS: GAME TWO
Score: St. Francis (N.Y.) 10, Gannon 8
Records: St. Francis (N.Y.) (1-5), Gannon (0-2)
 
SCORES BY QUARTER (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - TOTAL)
Gannon (1 - 3 - 3 - 1 - 8)
St. Francis (N.Y.) (3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- St. Francis (N.Y.) struck first for a 1-0 lead just 43 seconds into the match. Gannon answered back with under five minutes left in the first quarter to tie the game at 1-1with a tally from Cooney, her first of four goals.
- The Terriers scored four straight to push their lead to 5-1 in the second quarter. Back-to-back goals from Cooney pulled the Lady Knights to within two, 5-3. The freshman's goals came 32 seconds apart. The Terriers wasted little time, storming down in just 17 seconds to extend their lead to 6-3.
- The two teams exchanged goals as St. Francis (N.Y.) carried a 7-4 lead into the break. The Lady Knights' final goal of the half came from McDaniels.
- Following a tally from the Terriers to open the third quarter, the Lady Knights scored three unanswered goals to pull to within one, 8-7. Sophomore Christine Uht (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) got the Lady Knights rolling in the stretch with Cooney scoring her fourth of the game and junior Rachel Bednarek (Windermere, Fla. / Olympia) adding her first of the season.
- To close the contest, the Terriers extended their lead to 10-7 half way through the fourth quarter. Williamson registered the Lady Knights' final tally with 2:34 left in regulation.
- Emily Rodriguez collected a season-high 10 blocks.  
 
GANNON GOALS (8)
Alison Cooney (4)
Rachel Bednarek (1)
Janelle McDaniels (1)
Francesca Williamson (1)
Christine Uht (1)
 
GANNON BLOCKS (10)
Emily Rodriguez (10)
 
UP NEXT
Gannon concludes the Villanova Invitational Sunday, Feb. 22. The Lady Knights open the final day against the host Wildcats at 8 a.m. before concluding their opening weekend against Siena at 2:15 p.m.