PRINCETON, NJ - The Iona men's water polo team (1-5) dropped the first two of this weekend's three matches today with a 20-9 loss to No. 16 California Baptist University and a 17-5 loss to No. 18 George Washington University in the Princeton Invite hosted by Princeton University at DeNunzio Pool.

Iona 9 Cal Baptist 20                                                                      
Down six at halftime, Iona rallied with four third-quarter scores, but could not make up for allowing ten first-half counterattack goals, and fell 20-9 to Cal Baptist in the opening match.

Sophomore Patrick Hudak led the Gaels with three goals, while junior Quinn Lloyd and sophomore Andrew Brozovic had two scores each. Sophomore Dalton Hansten and freshman Michael Feeley scored one goal each.

In goal, junior Jorge Andres Torres made seven saves on 24 Cal Baptist shots, including a five-meter penalty shot, and five steals in the first three periods. In the fourth quarter, junior Michael Banks made two saves on five Cal Baptist shots, two steals and one assist.

On defense, the Gaels made 14 steals and blocked two shots. Iona drew four Cal Baptist kickouts, while being ejected six times. Iona turned the ball over 11 times and connected on one of five man-up chances, while the Lancers made one of four.

29 seconds into the match, Cal Baptist struck first, but Hudak answered on Iona's next possession to tie the score at one with 7:15 left in the opening period. After Cal Baptist went back up one 45 seconds later, Lloyd tied the game at two apiece with 6:08 on the clock. Six Lancers counterattack goals, including a five-meter penalty score, gave them a six-goal 8-2 lead going into the second period.

With 2:23 gone in the second quarter, Hudak's second goal on freshman German Rodriguez's assist ended the Gaels offensive drought. The Lancers answered on their next possession to go back up six 9-3. A minute later, Brozovic scored on red-shirt junior Philip Wachowski's assist to pull Iona back within five 9-4 with 4:11 left. The Lancers tacked on three more consecutive goals in the closing 2:44 for a 12-4 halftime advantage.

After Torres blocked a five-meter penalty shot, Lloyd's second goal trimmed the Lancers advantage to 12-5 with 1:55 into the third period. Cal Baptist scored 20 ticks later for a 13-5 lead. A two-goal Iona run by Hansten and Feeley cut Cal Baptist's lead to 13-7 with 3:14 left in the third period. After another Cal Baptist score, Hudak's third goal got Iona within six 14-8 at the 2:14 mark. Two straight scores gave the Lancers a 16-8 advantage going into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Lancers tacked on four more goals, while Brozovic lobbed in his second goal with two seconds left.
 
Iona 5 George Washington 17
Facing the nationally ranked Colonials for the second time in five days, the Gaels managed only five goals – all in the second half – resulting in a 17-5 defeat in tonight's second match.

Hudak led Iona with two goals, while Brozovic, Lloyd and freshman Justin Ginsberg added one each.

In goal, Banks made 11 saves on 29 George Washington shots and added a steal.

On defense, the Gaels made four steals and blocked two shots. Iona was ejected six times, while drawing four Colonials kickouts. The Gaels turned the ball over nine times. Iona did not score on seven man-up chances, while George Washington did not score on four chances.

With 3:06 gone in the match, the Colonials got on the board first, then followed with two consecutive goals for a 3-0 lead as the Gaels failed to score in the opening period. George Washington upped its lead to 4-0 just 44 ticks into the second period. With three more unanswered goals, including a man-up chance, the Colonials built a 7-0 halftime advantage. Iona did not score in the first half with 17 shots on goal.

Hudak finally put the Gaels on the board with an assist from Lloyd with 44 ticks gone in the third period. With eight straight goals in the next five minutes, the Colonials maintained a 15-1 advantage at the 2:29 mark. Nineteen seconds later, Hudak struck again assisted by red-shirt sophomore Daniel Savage, but the Colonials scored on their next possession for a 16-2 lead. Brozovic's goal with just 11 ticks to go narrowed the score to 16-3 going into the final period. 

Iona outscored George Washington 2-1 in the final period. After the Colonials tacked on another goal with 1:08 gone, Ginsberg scored his first collegiate goal with 2:45 to go, followed by Lloyd in the closing minute.

The Gaels face Johns Hopkins University here at 6:45 p.m. tomorrow.