PRINCETON, NJ - Despite getting within three goals in the second quarter, the Iona men's water polo team (1-6) fell 20-12 to Johns Hopkins University in the last of three matches this weekend at the 2018 Princeton Invite hosted by Princeton University.

Sophomores Patrick Hudak and Dalton Hansten led the Gaels in scoring, each tallying three, while junior Quinn Lloyd scored two. Senior Spencer Anthony, sophomore Andrew Brozovic and freshman German Rodriguez had one goal apiece. Iona had 10 assists with three each from Lloyd and sophomore Brett Hofer.

In goal, junior Jorge Andres Torres made 11 saves on 29 Blue Jays shots and added three steals. After Torres was disqualified late in the game with three ejections, junior Michael Banks didn't record a saves on three shots.

On defense, the Gaels nabbed five steals and blocked one shot. Iona drew eight Johns Hopkins kickouts, including four by Hudak, and were ejected 12 times. The Gaels turned the ball over 10 times and scored on 3-9 man-up chances, while Johns Hopkins were 6-11.

With 59 seconds gone in the match, Johns Hopkins got on the board first with a five-meter penalty shot, then followed with two unanswered goals to lead 3-0 with 4:43 left in the opening period. Brozovic scored first for the Gaels to trim the Blue Jays lead to 3-1 at the 2:26 mark. Johns Hopkins tacked on another goal with 24 ticks remaining for a 4-1 edge.

On the Gaels first second-quarter possession, Rodriguez pulled Iona within two, 4-2. The Blue Jays responded 1:29 later to go back up three 6-2 with 6:01 to go. After Hudak trimmed the Blue Jays lead to 5-3, three straight Johns Hopkins goals, including a man-up chance, made the score 9-3 with 29 seconds on the clock. Rodriguez missed a five-meter penalty shot, then Lloyd got Iona within five 9-4 at the buzzer for intermission.

Johns Hopkins opened the second half with a quick goal, but two consecutive scores by Hansten, including a 6-5 advantage goal, cut the Blue Jays edge to four 10-6 with 5:23 left. Adding two more consecutive scores, Johns Hopkins increased its lead to six 12-6.  In the closing two minutes, Lloyd and Spencer hit two goals for the Gaels to get within four 12-8. Scoring with 46 seconds to go, Johns Hopkins led 13-8 going into the final period.

Just 22 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Blue Jays upped their edge to 14-8, until Hansten's third goal pulled the Gaels back within five 14-9. When Torres was ejected, Johns Hopkins promptly scored, but two straight Hudak scores in the next minute cut the difference to four 15-11 with 5:46 on the clock. Johns Hopkins added two quick scores as Torres picked up his third ejection, then Hofer's goal got Iona within five 17-12 with 3:14 remaining. Three Blue Jays goals in the closing 2:40, including a five-meter penalty shot, sealed their win.

Next Sunday, the Gaels travel to Connecticut College in New London, CT for three matches. Iona faces Pennsylvania State University Behrend at 8:30 a.m., California Lutheran University at 1 p.m., and Connecticut College at 3:30 p.m.