BROOKLYN, NY - Despite a fourth-quarter three-goal rally, the Iona men's water polo team fell 17-7 to St. Francis College (New York) in the squad's first NEWPC match of the 2018 season.

Seven Gaels (3-8, 0-1 NEWPC) scored one goal each: senior Jason Hill, junior Quinn Lloyd, sophomore Andrew Brozovic, sophomore Brett Hofer, freshman Michael Feeley, freshman Justin Ginsberg and freshman German Rodriguez. Hill and Hofer both assisted on one goal apiece.

Junior goalie Jorge Andres Torres made five saves on 17 Terriers shots and junior goalie Michael Bank made five saves on 12 Terriers shots and two steals.

On defense, Iona nabbed two steals and blocked four shots with three coming form Lloyd. The Gaels drew 17 Terriers kickouts with six by sophomore Patrick Hudak, while being ejected nine times.
 
Sophomore Dalton Hansten was disqualified with three ejections. Iona were 2-13 on man-up chances and made three-of-four five-meter penalty shots. St. Francis had five goals on eight man-up opportunities.

With 2:27 gone in the match, St. Francis struck first to begin a three-goal run, until Brozovic put Iona on the board with 1:32 left in the opening period. The Terriers answered with two straight goals in the closing minute to lead 5-1 going into the second period.

In the second quarter, neither squad scored until 4:35 gone when the Terriers took advantage of 6-5 opportunity, then added another goal to lead 7-1 with 3:59 on the clock. On Iona's next possession, Lloyd pulled the Gaels within five 7-2, but the hosts answered on their next trip down the pool for an 8-2 halftime advantage.

St. Francis outscored Iona 5-2 in the third period with Hofer hitting a five-meter penalty shot with 1:29 left, and Rodriguez finding the back of the net with one tick to go as the Terriers led 13-4 entering the final period.

In the opening 5:39 of the fourth quarter, the Terriers went on 4-0 run until the Gaels put together their own 3-0 rally with Ginsberg, Feeney and Hill scoring in the closing 4:29 of the match.

Despite his squad dropping the conference opener, Iona head coach Brian Kelly has seen much improvement in his young squad over the past four weeks.

"We have improved a lot since the beginning of season in every facet of the game except for our power play," Kelly said.  "We're going to be a much more competitive team once we get that going."
This weekend the Gaels will host three conference opponents at Hynes Pool.  On Saturday, Iona faces Harvard at 12:30 p.m., and MIT at 5:30 p.m.  On Sunday, the Gaels take on Brown at 1:30 p.m.