BROOKLYN, NY – After a first half featuring three ties and three lead changes, the Iona University men's water polo team got within a goal of no. 20-ranked Saint Francis College (Brooklyn) in the third period, but fell short 17-13 in a Northeast Water Polo Conference road match here this evening.

GAME SUMMARY

Sophomore Luksa Vlasic led the Gaels with four goals on four shots, while graduate co-captain Justin Ginsberg, senior co-captain Mohamed Refaat, junior Trippe Bauman and freshman Sole Fratila had two scores each. Sophomore Luka Nastic added one goal for Iona.  Iona scored 13 goals on 30 shots with 13 assists with four by Refaat.

In goal, senior Kyle Laufenberg had 20 saves on 40 Saint Francis shots, four steals, two assists and 17 goals against. On defense, the Maroon and Gold made 13 steals with three each by Refaat and junior co-captain Andrew Miller. The Gaels blocked four shots with two by Refaat. Iona drew nine Saint Francis kickouts, while being ejected seven times, including one five-meter ejection. Vlasic was disqualified with three ejections. The Gaels turned the ball over 25 times. Iona scored five man-up goals on nine opportunities, while Saint Francis made three man-up goals on six chances.   

With 1:30 gone in the match, Iona struck first as Refaat scored on the Gaels second possession. On a man-up goal, the Terriers knotted the game at one each with 3:41 left. The hosts went up one 2-1 on a five-meter penalty shot just 51 ticks later. Fratila re-tied the game at two with 1:47 on the clock. Iona regained a one-goal edge on Refaat's second score with 51 ticks left in the opening period.

The Terriers needed only ten seconds into the second period to tie the score for the third time at three apiece. On its second straight score, Saint Francis regained the lead 4-3 with 6:27 left. Continuing a 3-0 run, the hosts went up two 5-3 only 22 seconds later. Fratila took advantage of a man-up chance, but Saint Francis answered with two consecutive scores for a three-goal 7-4 edge with 3:25 remaining.Nastic ended the Terriers run to slice the home margin back to two 7-5 at the 2:06 mark, but Saint Francis struck again with 46 second to go for an 8-5 halftime edge.

In the third period, Iona outscored Saint Francis 5-4. Vlasic cut the Terriers lead back to two 8-6 with 34 seconds gone in the third period, but the hosts answered on their next chance to go back up three 9-6. Ginsberg's goal pulled the Gaels back within two 9-7 at the 5:58 mark.   Saint Francis answered 1:03 later for a three-score cushion 10-7. Vlasic's second goal put Iona back within two 10-8 with 4:21 to go.   

Tipping in Refaat's pass, Vlasic recorded his third score two minutes later as Iona fought back within one 10-9, but Saint Francis recorded two straight goals for a 11-9 edge with 36 ticks on the clock. Vlasic found the back of the net for the fourth time with 16 seconds remaining as the Gaels clawed back within two 12-10 going into the final period.
With two unanswered scores, the Terriers regained a four-goal lead 14-10 just 1:25 into the final period. Bauman answered with 3:35 remaining as Iona got back within three 14-11. The Terriers scored a breakaway goal with 2:03 left, but Bauman struck again to slice the home edge back to three 15-12 just 15 ticks later. Following another Saint Francis score, Ginsberg's second goal chopped the Terriers lead down to three 16-13. The Terriers sealed their win with a final goal with 45 seconds remaining.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will have a rematch with Saint Francis when they host the Terriers at the Hynes Center Pool on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m.