NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Rebounding from five-straight tough road losses, the Iona men's water polo team celebrated the season's first home match with a 19-6 win over Connecticut College this afternoon at Hynes Pool.

Senior Marc Stauble led the Gaels (3-5) with four goals on five shots, while freshmen Brett Hofer scored three. Sophomore Quinn Lloyd and freshman Patrick Hudak added two. Seniors Jonathan Hulbert, Andrew Judge, Zach Roper, Matthew Rothman, Patrick Judge, juniors Spencer Anthony and Jason Hill,  and sophomore Daniel Savage made one score each.

In goal, sophomores Jorge Andres Torres made three saves on seven Connecticut shots, Sebastian Van Reeken had six saves on ten shots, one steal, and one assist, and Michael Banks made three saves on 12 shots and five steals. 

On offense, the Gaels made 11 assists with three by Stauble.  Iona scored on six of twelve man-up chances, while Connecticut made two of six. The Gaels turned the ball over 25 times. On defense, Iona made ten steals with two each from Lloyd and Roper and one blocked shot. The Gaels drew 12 Camel kickouts with four by Anthony, while being ejected eight times.

Scoring on their first two possessions with goals by Hudak and Stauble, the Gaels led 2-0 with 47 seconds gone in the match. The visitors answered with two straight goals, but an expired shot clock cancelled their second score as Iona led 2-1 with 6:49 left in the first quarter. After a scoreboard malfunction caused a 30-minute delay, Stauble put Iona up 3-1 with 5:17 remaining.  Connecticut pulled within one 3-2, but two straight Iona goals from Lloyd and Andrew Judge gave Iona a 6-2 advantage with 3:18 on the clock.

In the second quarter, the Gaels outscored the Camels 7-1 on goals by Hudak, Rothman, Stauble, Hill, Hofer, Anthony, Lloyd and Savage. With Iona head coach Brian Kelly resting his starters in the second half, his reserves scored five third-quarter goals, while holding Connecticut to two for a 18-5 lead going into the final period. Kelly slowed his offense in the fourth quarter as each squad recorded a goal with Stauble hitting his fourth.

While head coach Brian Kelly was pleased with today's win, his squad has "a long way to go" with five straight home games against strong opponents, including four conference matches.

"I think we're going to be a very good team this year," Kelly said.  "But we still have a long way to go. We need to capitalize on home-pool advantage. We're going to find out how good we are in the next five games at home."

Iona hosts Wagner College this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Hynes Pool.