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Iona University Athletics

Ginsberg

Men's Water Polo Jack Breslin / Garrett Murray - Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Iona Water Polo Splits Another Day At Home

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
NEW ROCHELLE, NY - After falling 12-9 to no.19 ranked Brown University, the Iona University men's water polo team earned its second Northeast Water Polo Conference win with a 16-4 victory over Connecticut College this afternoon at Hynes Pool.

Brown #19 12 Iona 9

After leading no.19 ranked Brown by one goal at halftime, Iona managed only two second-half goals, while surrendering seven third-quarter goals, but holding the Bears scoreless in the final period in a 12-9 conference loss in this afternoon's first match.

Freshman Sole Fratila led the Gaels with five on nine shots, while sophomore Luksa Vlasic scored two goals on five shots. Sophomore Luka Nastic and freshman Matthew Mischlich had one goal each. The Gaels scored nine goals on 29 shots and had eight assists with two each from senior co-captain Mohamed Refaat, graduate co-captain Justin Ginsberg and freshman Rastko Jevdjovic.   

In goal, senior Kyle Laufenberg had eight deep-end saves on 19 Brown shots, and ten goals against in the first and third quarters. Junior Diego Gomez had eight shallow-end saves on 13 Brown shots and two goals against in the second and fourth quarters. On defense, the Maroon and Gold made eleven steals with four by Ginsberg and three by Refaat. The Gaels blocked three shots with two by Refaat. Iona drew ten Brown kick outs with four by Vlasic, while being ejected 13 times, including two five-meter ejections. Ginsberg and Refaat were disqualified. The Gaels turned the ball over 16 times. Iona scored four man-up goals on eight opportunities, while Brown scored two man-up goals on 11 chances.

With 1:05 gone in the match, the Bears got on the board first, then converted a man-up chance for a 2-0 lead with 2:57 left in the opening period. Fratila's breakaway score pulled the Gaels within one 2-1 at the 1:39 mark. After Brown went back up two 3-1, Nastic's goal with just 55 ticks left trimmed the visitors' edge back to one 3-2, then Fratila's second score at the six-second mark knotted the match at three going into the second period.

Vlasic needed only 56 seconds to give Iona its first lead 4-3, followed by Fratila's third score for a two-goal 5-3 home edge with 5:17 on the clock during a 4-0 run. With only 36 seconds on the clock, Fratila's lob goal took advantage of a man-up opportunity for a two-goal 6-4 edge. But just 13 seconds later, Brown sliced that the Iona lead back to one 6-5 at halftime.

A Bears five-meter penalty shot goal tied the game for the second time at two with 22 seconds gone in the third period. On a 4-0 run, Brown retook the lead, then went up two 8-6 with 4:07 remaining. Fratila's final score got Iona back within one 8-7, but Brown answered with four straight scores for a four-goal 12-7 advantage going into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Gaels defense shut down the Bears offense, but managed only two scores. Mischlich ended the Gaels offensive drought with 46 seconds gone in the fourth quarter to get Iona back with four 12-8. Vlasic's second goal with 22 ticks left pulled Iona within three 12-9 as the Iona rally fell short.  

Iona 16 Connecticut 4

With 14 players scoring, Iona rebounded this afternoon for a 16-4 win over Connecticut College for its second conference win in two days. Fratila and senior Timothy Bergaminis led the Maroon and Gold with two goals each.  Refaat, junior James DiSalle, junior Jack Folan, junior co-captain Andrew Miller, Vlasic, sophomore Aidan Finkler, sophomore Edward Howaniec, freshman Robert Freece, freshman Rastko Jevdjovic, Mischlich, freshman Schuyler Newberger and freshman Tyler White. The Gaels scored 16 goals on 32 shots and had 13 assists with two each from Ginsberg, DiSalle and Nastic.   

In goal, senior Kyle Laufenberg had two saves on seven Connecticut shots, one steal and one assist and two goals against in the fourth quarter. Junior Diego Gomez had seven saves on 11 Connecticut shots, three steals, two assists and one goal against in the first and second quarters. Freshman Aleksandar Slavkovic had five saves on eight Connecticut shots and one goal against in the third quarter.

On defense, the Maroon and Gold made 18 steals with four by Howaniec. The Gaels blocked four shots with two by DiSalle. Iona drew four Connecticut kickouts with three by DiSalle, including two five-meter ejections, while being ejected three times. The Gaels turned the ball over 18 times. Iona scored two man-up goals on four opportunities, while Connecticut scored two man-up goals on three chances.

The Gaels took a 1-0 lead on Vlasic's first score with 1:48 gone in the match. Two unanswered goals by Jevdjovic and Miller gave the home squad a 3-0 edge with 3:51 remaining in the opening period. The Camels got on the board 12 seconds later to trim the Gaels advantage back to two 3-1. Howaniec and Mischlich found the back of the net on consecutive possessions to put Iona up four 5-1 going into the second period.

With 45 ticks gone in the second quarter, Fratila gave the Gaels a 6-1 lead. After a missed five-meter penalty shot, Newburger's first collegiate goal resulted in a six-goal 7-1 cushion with 6:23 to go. White followed with his first Gaels score on a five-meter penalty shot for an 8-1 halftime lead, as the Iona defense held Connecticut scoreless in the second period. 

After Fratila's second score put Iona up eight 9-1, Connecticut cut the home lead back to seven 9-2 with 4:55 left in the third period. Two straight Gaels goals from Bergamini and Finkler gave Iona an 11-2 margin going into the final period. 

Refaat put Iona up ten 12-2 with 6:42 to go in regulation, Connecticut trimmed that lead back to nine 12-3 with 5:59 left. Bergamini's second score just 1:02 later restored the Gaels ten-goal lead 13-3. Continuing a 3-0 Iona run, two straight scores by DiSalle and Freece mounted Iona's edge to 15-3 with 1:47 to go. After a Camels score with 47 ticks left, Folan sealed Iona's second season conference win.

PLAYER THOUGHTS

Two of the squad's graduating seniors expressed their appreciation to their families and fans, who helped celebrate their weekend with two "quality wins."

"We had two great conference wins," said Bergamini, who had a career-high two goals against Connecticut.  "Definitely nice to have families and friends to come out and celebrate the seniors."

"It was great to give our home fans a couple of quality wins and the support from everyone was well appreciated," Laufenberg said. "We're looking forward to the same kind of support for the rest of our home games."

UP NEXT

On Saturday, the Gaels will host no. 15-ranked Princeton University for a conference match at 10 a.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Players Mentioned

Timothy Bergamini

#24 Timothy Bergamini

CD
6' 2"
Senior
James DiSalle

#19 James DiSalle

C
6' 0"
Junior
Aidan Finkler

#18 Aidan Finkler

UT
6' 1"
Sophomore
Jack Folan

#15 Jack Folan

CD
6' 4"
Junior
Justin Ginsberg

#5 Justin Ginsberg

CD
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Diego Gomez

#1A Diego Gomez

GK
6' 0"
Junior
Edward Howaniec

#11 Edward Howaniec

UT
6' 0"
Sophomore
Kyle Laufenberg

#1 Kyle Laufenberg

GK
6' 0"
Senior
Andrew Miller

#12 Andrew Miller

UT
6' 3"
Junior
Luka Nastic

#10 Luka Nastic

UT
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Timothy Bergamini

#24 Timothy Bergamini

6' 2"
Senior
CD
James DiSalle

#19 James DiSalle

6' 0"
Junior
C
Aidan Finkler

#18 Aidan Finkler

6' 1"
Sophomore
UT
Jack Folan

#15 Jack Folan

6' 4"
Junior
CD
Justin Ginsberg

#5 Justin Ginsberg

6' 4"
Graduate Student
CD
Diego Gomez

#1A Diego Gomez

6' 0"
Junior
GK
Edward Howaniec

#11 Edward Howaniec

6' 0"
Sophomore
UT
Kyle Laufenberg

#1 Kyle Laufenberg

6' 0"
Senior
GK
Andrew Miller

#12 Andrew Miller

6' 3"
Junior
UT
Luka Nastic

#10 Luka Nastic

6' 1"
Sophomore
UT