ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Iona men's water polo team opened its 2013 season with a narrow 12-11 loss to Johns Hopkins in the first of four matches at the Navy Open this weekend hosted by the United States Naval Academy.
In their second game of the day, after trailing by a single goal at the end of first, the Gaels suffered a 16-9 defeat against the host Midshipmen.
In the opener, the Gaels led the match from 5:41 left in the first period until the final three minutes when Hopkins tied the score at eleven, then pulled ahead with 19.6 seconds left in regulation. After leading 11-6 at 1:18 left in the third period, Iona allowed the Blue Jays to score six unanswered goals.
Sophomore Zach Presto led the Gaels with four goals, while juniors Jake Lloyd and Ian Thompson each scored twice, with Thompson netting the squad's first goal of the season 23 seconds into the game. Senior Sean Davis and juniors James Ramaley and Kyle Elmore added one goal apiece. Senior goalie Stefen Hill recorded 12 saves.
In the day's finale, the Midshipmen scored first 33 seconds into the match, but Davis answered 1:15 later to tie the score at one. The host team hit two quick goals, then Ramaley hit his first score to trim the host's lead to 3-2. Thompson matched another Navy goal with 43 seconds left in the first period to trim the deficit to 4-3.
But Navy outscored the Gaels 4-1 in the second quarter with Elmore giving Iona a goal with 4:38 left to halftime. Despite goals from Thompson and Ramaley halfway through the third period, Navy answered with four more scores for a 12-6 lead going into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Navy only outscored Iona 4-3 with Gael goals from senior Matthew Stelnicki, Elmore and Ramaley.
Ramaley led the Gaels with three goals, while Thompson and Elmore hit two each. Stelnicki and Davis each scored once in the loss. Hill had eleven saves.
Iona will have an opportunity to even the season series with both squads next weekend at the Priceton Invite in New Jersey. Before then, the Gaels wrap up their opening weekend here tomorrow against Diablo Valley College (California) at 11:50 a.m. and Bucknell at 3:20 p.m.
