Princeton, NJ - The Iona College Men's Water Polo team headed into the Princeton Invitational as the ninth ranked team in the CWPA poll and faced five nationally ranked opponents. The Gaels (3-6) had strong performances over the weekend from UT Joe Przekota and G Eric Konzem.

In the opener on Friday, Iona faced No. 15 Santa Clara and trailed 5-3 after the first quarter. The Broncos (4-1) jumped out to a 8-3 lead at the half and outscored the Gaels 3-2 in the second half for an 11-4 win. Konzem had a good showing with 10 saves. Przekota had two goals, a kickout drawn and a field block. Ed Gronkowski added a goal and a kickout drawn and Seth Tasman added Iona's final tally of the game.

The Maroon & Gold got back in the pool on Saturday to face now ranked No. 18 Bucknell for the second time in just six days. The Bison (4-4), who took the first meeting and put up four goals in the quarter, replicated almost an identical first quarter. The Gaels though battled back to outscore Bucknell 4-3 in the second quarter and trail by just three goals at halftime. Both teams had strong second half and Iona trailed by two goals heading into the fourth quarter. With a three goal performance in the final quarter and holding the Bison to just a goal, the Gaels sent the game to overtime, but Bucknell added a pair to edge Iona 13-11. Konzem again was "the star of the game", as Head Coach Brian Kelly put it, with eight saves, four steals and an assist. Przekota had a goal and a kickout drawn, captain Patrick St. Cin had a goal and two assists and Emre Erdogan added a goal, two steals and a field block. Ed Gronkowski led the team netting four goals, draing three kickouts and handing out an assist. Seth Tasman picked up a hat trick with two assists and two steals.

In Saturday's nightcap, the competition didn't get easier with No. 9 UC San Diego on the other end of the pool. The Gaels were able to hold the Tritons (8-1) to their lowest goal total of the tournament at that point. The Gaels struggling shooting just 23%, went 1-for-5 on 6-on-5 opportunities and were 0-for-1 on penalty shots. St. Cin had a pair of goals, a steal and two field blocks and Tasman added another goal. Przekota netted a goal, an assists and four kickouts drawn with rookie Matt Joslyn adding a goal, a steal and a kickout drawn.

On Sunday, the Gaels faced last weekend's host, No. 11 Navy. The Midshipmen (4-4) jumped out with six goals early and never looked back as the Gaels' shooting woes continued. Konzem did his part with five saves and three assists in the first half and junior transfer Eric Lilly played the second half stopping four shots and handing out two assists. Przekota netted a pair of goals, drew four kickouts, tieing his high for the tournament, and added two steals. Emre Erdogan picked up a pair of goals, a kickout drawn and a field block with Tasman scoring another goal for his good weekend.

The Gaels closed out the weekend against George Washington, who they will face this Saturday at the ECAC Championship in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Iona played another close game falling just short 15-12. St. Cin had two goals and a field block, Przekota netted a goal, an assist and two kickouts drawn with Tasman scoring two more goals to go along with a field block. Nick Velasquez, who had a stellar weekend at the Navy Open, scored a hat trick and had four takeaways. Gronkowski scored twice with a field block and a kickout drawn and Joslyn picked up a goal. Konzem stop six shots to finish the weekend with 29 saves and Lilly, who played just the fourth quarter, had a three saves.

Iona will get right back in the water in just two days on Tuesday, September 16 with a game against another ranked opponent, No. 13 St. Francis (NY). The game is being played at Flushing Meadow Corona Pool in Flushing Meadow, NY. Just a day later, the Maroon & Gold return to flushing to face Queens College. Both games are a 7:30 pm.

              1    2    3    4     F
Santa Clara    5    3    2    1    11
Iona           2    0    1    1    4

                1    2    3    4    OT    F
Iona            0    4    4    3    0    11
Bucknell        4    3    3    1    2    13


                1    2    3    4    F
UC San Diego    4    2    4    1    11
Iona            0    1    2    2    5


                1    2    3    4    F
Navy            6    2    2    0    10
Iona            1    0    2    2    5