Irvine, CA - The Iona College Men's Water Polo team got back in the pool after a week off with two tough games before beginning the Claremont Convergence. The Gaels (6-10) opened up against Concordia and got a combined eight goals from Ed Gronkowski and Joe Przekota in a 12-11 win.  The Maroon & Gold made the short trip to take on No. 17 Cal Baptist and were edged 13-8 in the night cap.

The Gaels used a 5-2 first quarter against the Eagles (10-8) to pace the game.  With a 8-4 coming out of the half, Concordia (CA) came back with four goals in the third quarter, but with a tie game late in the fourth quarter, Iona got the game-winner from Trevor Creighton with less than 30 seconds left on 6-on-5 penalty to give the Gaels a 12-11 victory.

Joe Przekota led the team with five goals and added two kickouts drawn.  Ed Gronkowski had a hat trick with four kickouts drawn, a field block and three steals.  Captain Patrick St. Cin netted a goal and handed out four assists.  Seth Tasman had a pair of goals, a kickout drawn and three steals with Nick Velasqueze adding two steals and a kickout drawn.  Emre Erdogan also had a steal and a field block.  Head Coach Brian Kelly's "player of the game " was goalie Eric Konzem with 16 saves, four steals and an assist.

In the nightcap, Cal Baptist held a 4-2 lead at halftime.  Iona came out strong in the third quarter, but the Lancers (18-6) outscored the Gaels 5-3 in the fourth quarter for a 13-8 win.  Tasman led the Maroon & Gold with a pair of goals and added two steals.  Gronkowski finished his strong day with two more goals and three kickouts drawn.  Przekota also had another strong game with a goal, an assist and three kickouts drawn.  St. Cin netted a goal, had two takeaways, and a field block.  Rookie Matt Joslyn netted a goal and Nick Velasquez added a goal, two kickouts drawn, and a field block.  Konzem was dominant between the pipes with nine saves, two steals and an assist.

The Gaels open the Claremont Convergence with two games on Friday, October 3.  Iona faces La Verne at 1:15 pm and Chapman at 5:00 pm.

		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Iona		5	3	2	2	12
CUI		2	2	4	3	11 

		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Iona		1	1	3	3	8
Cal Baptist	2	2	4	5	13