Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Events

View Schedule  
  Go Back

Iona University Athletics

Water Polo Team
Stockton Photo Inc.

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

Iona Water Polo Battles Tough Against #11 Ranked Princeton

Box Score
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Down only one goal at halftime and tying the score three times, the Iona University men's water polo team fell 10-7 to no. 11-ranked Princeton University in a Northeast Water Polo Conference match this morning at Hynes Pool.

GAME SUMMARY

Senior co-captain Mohamed Refaat led Iona (7-11 overall, 2-3 NEWPC) with two goals on four shots, while graduate co-captain Justin Ginsberg, junior Trippe Bauman, junior co-captain Drew Miller, sophomore Luksa Vlasic and freshman Edward Imm scored one goal apiece. The Gaels scored seven goals on 24 shots and had six assists with two by freshman Sole Fratila.

In goal, senior Kyle Laufenberg had 15 saves on 25 Princeton shots, including stopping a five-meter penalty shot, one steal and ten goals against. On defense, the Maroon and Gold made eight steals with three by Refaat. The Gaels blocked two shots. 

Iona drew 13 Princeton kickouts and two five-meter penalties with five ejections drawn by Miller and four by Fratila, while being ejected 12 times, including one five-meter ejection. Fratila was disqualified. The Gaels turned the ball over 21 times. Iona scored three man-up goals on 14 opportunities, while Princeton scored two man-up goals on 12 chances.

Neither team scored until a Princeton shot floated into the goal with 4:24 left in the opening period for a 1-0 Tigers lead. On the Gaels next possession, Ginsberg put Iona on the board to knot the game at one-all just 1:01 later. The match remained tied going into the second period.

After Refaat missed a five-meter penalty shot with 1:05 gone, Princeton went back up one 2-1 at the 4:15 mark. Taking advantage of a man-up chance, the visitors went up two 3-1 with 1:27 to go. With 1:55 remaining, Refaat sliced the Tigers edge back to one 3-2 at intermission.

Following Laufenberg stopping a five-meter Princeton penalty shot, Vlasic tied the game at three, but Princeton answered to go back up one 4-3 with 6:19 on the clock. Refaat's second goal re-tied the game for third time at four each at the 5:02 only 1:17 later. Three straight Princeton shallow-end goals gave the Tigers a three-goal 7-4 edge with 3:27 to go. Bauman hit a five-meter penalty shot to get Iona back within two 7-5 going into the final period.

Two unanswered Princeton deep-end goals put the visitors back up four 9-5 with 2:03 gone in the fourth quarter. Imm sliced the Tigers advantage back to three 9-6 just 1:05 later. With 1:51 remaining, Princeton scored a breakaway goal, but Miller found the back of the net on the Gaels next chance to pull Iona back within three 10-7 with 1:10 to go as the Iona rally fell short.

PLAYER THOUGHTS

Despite falling three goals short of beating a nationally ranked team, Miller praised the team effort and anticipated a road win at Princeton on October 29.

"It was a great game," Miller said. "I'm really proud of the boys. We are a very good team and I'm happy with our performance. But we'll be much happier when we beat them at their pool. Roll Gaels."

UP NEXT

On Wednesday, the Gaels travel to Brooklyn to take on St. Francis College at 7 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona Athletics on all social media platforms:
IonaGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Water Polo: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Trippe Bauman

#7 Trippe Bauman

UT
5' 9"
Junior
Justin Ginsberg

#5 Justin Ginsberg

CD
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Kyle Laufenberg

#1 Kyle Laufenberg

GK
6' 0"
Senior
Mohamed Refaat

#3 Mohamed Refaat

UT
5' 10"
Senior
Luksa Vlasic

#9 Luksa Vlasic

C
6' 2"
Sophomore
Edward Imm

#17 Edward Imm

C
6' 1"
Freshman
Sole Fratila

#14 Sole Fratila

A
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Trippe Bauman

#7 Trippe Bauman

5' 9"
Junior
UT
Justin Ginsberg

#5 Justin Ginsberg

6' 4"
Graduate Student
CD
Kyle Laufenberg

#1 Kyle Laufenberg

6' 0"
Senior
GK
Mohamed Refaat

#3 Mohamed Refaat

5' 10"
Senior
UT
Luksa Vlasic

#9 Luksa Vlasic

6' 2"
Sophomore
C
Edward Imm

#17 Edward Imm

6' 1"
Freshman
C
Sole Fratila

#14 Sole Fratila

6' 0"
Freshman
A