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Iona University Athletics

Men's Water Polo 9/10/2023 6:03:00 PM Jack Breslin / Garrett Murray - Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Iona Men's Water Polo Falls to Bucknell

Box Score PRINCETON, NJ - Failing to avenge last Saturday's 12-9 loss at the 2023 Bruno Classic, the Iona University men's water polo team fell 15-7 to Bucknell University in the final day of 2023 Princeton Invitational hosted at DeNuzio Pool by Princeton University.

Senior Drew Miller and sophomore Rastko Jevdiovic led the Maroon and Gold (1-6 overall) with two goals each. Junior Luksa Vlasic, sophomore Coby Scanlon, freshman Jayden Arana added one goal apiece. The Gaels scored seven goals on 20 shots on six assists with two by senior Trippe Bauman.

In goal, junior Aleksandar Slavkovic had nine saves on 26 Seahawks shots, including stopping a five-meter penalty, made two steals and had 15 goals against. On defense, the Gaels made 14 steals with four by Miller. Sophomore Robert Fleece blocked a shot. Iona drew 11 Bucknell kickouts with six by Miller, while being ejected five times, including three five-meter penalties. Scanlon won two of four swim offs. The Gaels turned the ball over 20 times. Iona scored three goals on 11 man-up chances.

Bucknell took a two-goal 2-0 lead with two straight five-meter penalty goals with 3:28 gone in the match. After the Bison tacked on another unanswered score, Vlasic got the Gaels on the board to slice the Bucknell lead back to two 3-1 with 2:29 remaining. Bucknell answered on its next chance to go back up three 4-1, then took a 5-1 lead with 20 seconds left. With 1:33 gone in the second period, Miller got Iona back within three 5-2, but Bucknell scored 18 ticks later for a four-goal 6-2 edge with 6:09 remaining. On two more consecutive goals, the Bison continued a 3-0 run for a six-goal 8-2 halftime lead. Iona managed only two goals on 12 shots in the first half.

Jevdiovic found the back of the net with 51 seconds gone in the third period to pull Iona within five 8-5. After a Bison goal, Miller's second score cut the Bucknell lead back to 9-4 with 4:31 on the clock. Arana capitalized on a man-up chance to get the Gaels within five at 1-5 at the 2:57 mark. A Bison man-up score followed by a five-meter penalty goal upped the Bucknell lead to seven 12-5 with 1:29 left.

Jevdiovic's second goal on a man-up opportunity trimmed the Bison edge to six 12-6 going into the final period. Slavkovic opened the fourth quarter by stopping a Bison five-meter penalty attempt, but a Bucknell goal with 4:25 left upped its lead to seven 13-6. After Scanlon's score with three minutes to go, two straight Bucknell scores in the final two minutes sealed the 15-7 win.

Despite some noticeable progress in Friday's two losses, Iona head coach Brian Kelly was disappointed in his squad's performance this afternoon, particularly 20 turnovers. "It was a disappointing day," Kelly said. "We took a step backwards on offense. We were careless with the ball and didn't give ourselves a chance today with the amount of turnovers we had."

On Saturday, the Gaels travel to Connecticut College in New London, CT, for three non-conference matches in the 2023 Camel Round-Up: Toronto at 10:15 a.m.; Pennsylvania State Behrend at 2 p.m.; and Saddleback at 4:30 p.m.

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#Iona Athletics

Players Mentioned

#7 Trippe Bauman: UT; 5' 9"; Senior

#13 Coby Scanlon: A; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#1 Aleksandar Slavkovic: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#9 Luksa Vlasic: UT; 6' 2"; Junior

#2 Jayden Arana: A; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#7 Trippe Bauman
: 5' 9"; Senior
: UT

#13 Coby Scanlon
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: A

#1 Aleksandar Slavkovic
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#9 Luksa Vlasic
: 6' 2"; Junior
: UT

#2 Jayden Arana
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: A