ERIE, PA – The Iona College men's water polo dropped a heartbreaker on Friday night to Penn State Behrend, 12-11. The Lions and Gaels combined for 17 goals in the first half, but the home team scored just enough in a more defensive struggle throughout the third and fourth quarters.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona began the match scoring the first four goals. Sophomore
German Rodriguez began a strong effort with two goals in the first 3:30 of the game. Scores from redshirt senior
Philip Wachowski and junior
Andrew Brozovic made it 4-0 with 3:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Penn State Behrend scored its first goal of the game at the 3:35 of the first. Sophomore
Michael Feeley scored his lone goal of the game to put the Maroon & Gold back up by four, but a late Lion score in the first had the score reading 5-2 after the opening eight minutes.
The second quarter saw little defense. Iona and Penn State Behrend traded goals in the opening minute, but then the Lions went on a four goal run to take a 7-6 run. However, the offensive onslaught didn't stifle Iona's tenacity; the Gaels got a pair of scores from Rodriguez to ensure they went into intermission with a 9-8 lead.
Come the second half, the defensive prowess of both teams took the spotlight. In the third quarter, Wachowski and Brozovic each scored once to take build the Maroon & Gold lead to 11-8. However, Brozovic's goal with 2:08 was the team's last of the game. Penn State Behrend ended the game on a 4-0 run, shutting out the Gaels over the last 10 minutes.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- In goal, senior Jorge Andres Torres made six saves, one steals and allowed six goals. In the second quarter, senior Michael Banks made one save and allowed six goals.
- Rodriguez scored a game-high five goals on 11 shots. Brozovic scored three times while Wachowski and senior Brett Hofer each scored once.
- The Gaels had 41 shots as a team, 21 of which came from Rodriguez and Brozovic combined.
- Each team was three-for-three on five-meter penalty shots. Penn State Behrend was ejected eight times and Iona was ejected five teams.
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UP NEXT
Iona returns to action tomorrow Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Behrend Invitational with a pair of non-conference contests against Mercyhurst and Gannon. The action beings at 9 a.m. from the Junker Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Water Polo: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
