PROVIDENCE, RI - Down five goals in the second period, the Iona College men's water polo team rallied to tie, and briefly lead, but lost in sudden death overtime 12-11 to Mercyhurst University in a consolation-round match Saturday afternoon at the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship at Brown University.
Junior Jake Lloyd led Iona (7-26) with four goals, including one in the second overtime. Senior Matthew Stelnicki and junior James Ramaley scored two goals each, while senior Bryan Driscoll, senior Sean Davis, and junior Ian Thompson added one apiece. Senior goalie Stefen Hill recorded saves in the loss. Iona had seven ejections to five for Mercyhurst.
With two unanswered goals in the first period, Mercyhurst (19-7) led 2-0 until 2:15 into the second quarter when Driscoll put the Gaels on the board. The Lakers hit four more consecutive scores, until Stelnicki and Ramaley answered in the closing two minutes to narrow Mercyhurst's halftime lead to 6-3.
In the third period, the Gaels took off on their own four-goal spurt with scores by Davis, Ramaley and two by Lloyd, who tied the match at seven at the 2:48 mark. Mercyhurst retook the lead briefly, then Stelnicki retied the score with 1:38 to go in the third.
In the fourth period, Mercyhurst regained the led twice, but Lloyd's third goal at 6:13 and Thompson's score with 25 seconds left in regulation sent the match into overtime.
Neither team scored in the first overtime, then Lloyd gave the Gaels their first lead 11-10 35 seconds into the second overtime session. But the Lakers hit the net with 52 seconds left to force a third and sudden-death overtime. Mercyhurst scored the winning goal on a 6-5 penalty advantage at the 1:49 mark.
Iona head coach Brian Kelly complimented his squad's hard work, but was disappointed that the Gaels could not put the game away.
“Just like the game versus Princeton, we fought hard, rallied back, and never quit,” Kelly said. “We had several chances to win the game in regulation, overtime and sudden death.”
“One or two plays I wish we could have back that cost us the game," continued Kelly. “Unfortunately that's been the story of our season, and it has got to stop.”
The Gaels will face rival Fordham Sunday morning at 9:00 am in the match for 11th place in the CWPA Championship.
