PRINCETON, NJ – Looking for its third season win, the Iona men's water polo dropped two hard-fought matches with a 16-11 loss to Wagner College and narrow 13-11 defeat by the United States Naval Academy at the 2022 Princeton Invitational hosted here this weekend by Princeton University.

Wagner 16 Iona 11

After a brief first-period lead and two ties, Iona gave up seven straight first-half Wagner goals, but got back within three late in the fourth quarter in a 16-11 loss to the Seahawks in this morning's match. Senior co-captain Mohamed Refaat, sophomore Luksa Vlasic and freshman Sole Fratila, including his first Iona goal, led the Gaels (2-4 overall) with two scores each. Graduate co-captain Justin Ginsburg, senior Lester Machado, sophomore Edward Howaniec, sophomore Luka Nastic and freshman Coby Scanlon had one goal apiece. The Gaels made 11 goals on 24 shots with ten assists with two by sophomore William Harrington.

In goal, junior Diego Gomez had nine saves on 28 Seahawks shots, made four steals and had 16 goals against. On defense, the Gaels had six steals and blocked five shots with three by Vlasic. Iona drew 14 Seahawks kick outs and two five-meter penalties shots with three ejections drawn by Refaat, while being ejected ten times. Machado was rolled from the match in the fourth period. Iona scored seven goals on 14 man-up chances, while Wagner scored six goals on ten man-up opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over ten times.

With just 21 seconds gone in the match, Vlasic put Iona up by one 1-0 on the Gaels first possession. Wagner answered with 4:58 remaining in the opening period to tie the game at one goal each. The Seahawks went up one 2-1 on their next possession, but Refaat answered on Iona's next trip down the pool for a two-all tie with 3:39 to go.  Two unanswered Wagner goals gave the Seahawks a 4-2 lead at the 1:45 mark. After Vlasic missed a five-meter penalty shot, Wagner scored with one tick left for a three-goal 5-2 edge going into the second period.  

The Seahawks opened the second quarter with two more scores, including a five-meter penalty goal to go up five 7-2 with 1:05 gone. With 5:15 remaining, Wagner continued its 6-0 run for an 8-2 advantage. After the Seahawks tacked on another score with 2:57 left, then Howaniec ignited a 3-0 Gaels run in the closing 2:29, followed by Nastic and Fratila's first Iona goal to pull the Gaels back within four 9-5 at halftime.

After the Gaels defense stopped a Seahawks goal with Gomez ejected, Machado scored the Gaels fourth straight score as Iona got within three 9-6 with 4:25 left in the third period. With two unanswered goals, Wagner upped its edge back to five 11-6 on its next possession with 2:25 left. At the 1:33 mark, Ginsburg cut the Wagner margin to four 11-7, but the Seahawks answered to maintain a five-goal 12-7 advantage going into the final period.

Following a period-opening Wagner score, two straight Iona goals by Fratila and Rafeet got Iona back within four 13-9 with 5:48 left in regulation. After Fratila missed a five-meter penalty shot, Vlasic capitalized on 6-5 chance to slice the Wagner margin to three 13-10 with 3:53 to go. The Seahawks added three more goals, then Scanlon found the back of the net with 2:14 left as the Gaels fell short 16-11.

Navy 13  Iona 11

Trailing by a single goal with 4:39 left, Iona fell 13-11 to Navy in this afternoon's seesaw match featuring seven ties and two lead changes. Vlasic led the Gaels with four goals, while Refaat had three scores. Machado, junior co-captain Andrew Miller, Fratila and freshman Rastko Jevdjovic had one goal each. Iona made 11 goals on 23 shots and had nine assists with two each from Refaat, Ginsburg, Howaniec, Miller and Jevdjovic.

In goal, senior Kyle Laufenberg had 13 saves on 25 Midshipmen shots and had 13 goals against. On defense, the Gaels had eight steals with two by Ginsberg and Scanlon and blocked five shots. Iona drew eight Midshipmen kickouts with two from Vlasic and one five-meter penalty shot, while being ejected ten times. Iona scored four goals on eight man-up chances, while Navy scored eight goals on ten man-up opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over 12 times.

With 1:59 gone in the match, Navy got on the board first for a 1-0 edge, but Vlasic answered 30 seconds later to knot the game at one each. The Midshipmen went back up one with 4:54 left in the opening period, but two straight Gaels goals by Refaat and Machado gave Iona a one-goal margin 22 ticks later. A Navy goal with 1:32 left resulted in a three-all tie until the 20-second mark when Iona regained the lead 4-3 on Refaat's second score going into the second period.

After Navy capitalized on a man-up chance to retie the game at four each, Refaat's third score restored the Iona advantage 5-4 with 6:06 left in the second quarter. Navy tied the game again at six, but Miller found the back of the net on the Gaels next trip down the pool for a 6-5 edge with 5:16 left. With two straight goals, including a man-up score, the Midshipmen recaptured the lead at the 2:20 mark for a 7-6 halftime edge. The Gaels scored six goals on ten shots in the first half.

Vlasic needed only 19 seconds into the third period to score his second goal and knot the match at seven. Three straight Midshipmen goals on consecutive possessions put Navy back up three 10-7 with 4:59 remaining. Jevdjovic got Iona back within two 10-8 only 1:03 later, but two more Midshipmen scores in the closing 1:34 gave Navy a four-goal 12-8 edge going into the final period.

Iona outscored Navy 3-1 in the final period. Fratila opened the final quarter with a five-meter penalty goal to slice Navy's lead to three 12-9 with 6:39 left in regulation. Vlisac followed with two straight goals, including a man-up chance, as Iona pulled within one 12-11 with 4:39 on the clock. Navy ended Iona's 3-0 run with 2:25 left for a 13-11 edge and sealed the win.

UP NEXT

On Sunday, the Gaels will face Santa Clara University at 10:30 a.m., and George Washington University at 3:30 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Water Polo: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)