NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Just 13 days ago in the Bronx, the Iona College men's water polo team defeated Fordham 12-11 in double overtime. Tonight, the Rams triumphed 12-11 in a sudden-death overtime match featuring nine ties and five lead changes to capture the Judge Memorial Cup before a standing-room only crowd on Senior Night at the Hynes Center Pool.
With the teams tied 9-9 going into the first overtime, junior Chris Ellis - who lead Iona (3-9 overall, 2-5 CWPA North) with seven goals - put the Gaels up 10-9 with 1:01 left, but the Rams answered and tie the match just 12 seconds later. Ellis' goal with 11 seconds to go put the Maroon & Gold back on top by a goal entering the second overtime.
Fordham scored the only goal in the second overtime to knot the match at 11-11 and force sudden-death overtime. With 1:36 gone in the period, the Rams sealed the contest with the game winning goal.
"We had plenty of chances to win the game in regulation, overtime and sudden death and I'm sure Fordham is saying the same thing," said head coach Brian Kelly. "When we had chances to convert in big spots, we didn't seize the moment."
Before the game, the Gaels honored their three seniors -- goalie Matt McCrudden, red-shirt utility Zach Presto, who will return for the 2016 season, and utility Rafael Romero.
Junior Matt Rothman scored two goals for the Gaels, while sophomore Marc Stauble and sophomore Jonathan Hulbert added one score each. In goal, McCrudden recorded eight saves and one steal, and junior Anthony Zdanavicius had six goals and one assist.
On defense, the Gaels made three blocks, two by sophomore Zach Roper, and made nine steals, three each by Rothman and Stauble. Iona had 10 ejections, while drawing six Fordham kickouts, two each by Ellis, Roper and Stauble.
In the first three minutes of the match, Ellis' two unanswered goals, including a five-meter penalty shot drawn by Roper, put Iona up 2-0. Fordham got on the board with 1:38 left, but the Gaels led 2-1 at the end of the first period.
Fordham opened the second period with two straight scores to tie, and go ahead 3-2 with 6:02 left in the half. Rothman's weak-side score tied the game at three two minutes later, until Fordham hit a five-meter penalty goal with four ticks left to gain a 4-3 halftime advantage.
Iona went on a 3-0 run to open the third period with two goals from Ellis and one from Rothman to pull ahead 6-4, the match's largest lead by either team with 4:41 left. But the Rams answered with three consecutive scores to lead 7-6 at the 1:14 mark.
With 3:30 gone in the fourth period, Ellis tied the game at seven, then Fordham pulled back ahead 8-7 just 1:47 later. Hulbert tied the game at eight with 2:10 left in regulation, until the Rams went back on top 9-8 on their next possession. With 1:38 remaining, Stauble's goal knotted the score at nine, as regulation ended.
Iona won the Judge Memorial Cup last year for the second straight season in the third annual contest for the prize. The Cup is named after Dr. Francis X. Judge, a water polo pioneer at Fordham, and the founder of the Hudson Valley Water Polo Club.
He was the father of five Iona water polo players, including three Goal Club Hall of Famers: Greg '84 (HOF '03), Matt '86 (HOF '09), Ray '87 (HOF '09), Mike '94 and Kevin '95. Chris '80 (Fordham HOF '96), his second oldest son, starred for Fordham, and also coached the team. Iona sophomore Patrick Judge is the grandson of Dr. Judge.
Iona travels to Fordham on Saturday to face Mercyhurst, Salem and George Washington in the CWPA Crossover.
