PRINCETON, NJ - Down by just five goals to number-one-seeded host Princeton University after the first quarter, the fourth-seeded Iona University men's water polo team managed only six goals the rest of the way for a 22-11 loss this afternoon in the first semi-final match of the Northeast Water Polo Conference Championship here this weekend.
GAME SUMMARY
Graduate co-captain Mohamed Refaat, freshman Pavle Musikic and freshman Brett Grady led the Maroon and Gold (12-14 overall) with two goals each, while junior Rastko Jevdjovic, junior Matthew Mischlich, junior Coby Scanlon, sophomore Jayden Arana, and freshman Daniel Raz scored one goal apiece. The Gaels scored 11 goals on 32 shots seven assists with three by Refaat.
In goal, Aleksandar Slavkovic had five saves on 34 Tigers shots, one steal and had 21 goals against. Late in the fourth quarter, freshman P.J. Bartzen had no saves on one Tigers shot and one goal against. On defense, the Gaels made six steals with two by Grady. Iona drew 14 Princeton kickouts with five by Musikic, while being ejected eight times with two five-meter penalties. The Gaels turned the ball over 12 times. Iona scored three of 14 man-up chances, while Princeton, ranked number six nationally, scored on two of four man-up chances. Iona lost all four swim-offs.
With 40 seconds gone in the match, the Tigers got on the board first, but Jevdjovic scored on a man-up chance to tie the score at one-all with 6:36 remaining in the opening period. After two straight Princeton goals, Refaat hit another man-up goal to cut the hosts lead to one 3-2 with 4:03 left. Four straight Tigers scores, including a five-meter penalty goal, in closing 3:25 gave Princeton a 7-2 lead going into the second period.
Following another Tigers score, Musikic's second goal sliced the hosts edge to five 8-3 with 5:51 remaining. Princeton answered, but Refaat's second goal got the Gaels back within five 9-4 at the 3:08 mark. After two more Tigers goals, Musikic hit his second goal to cut the home advantage to six 11-5 at halftime. In the third period, Princeton outscored Iona 7-1, including a 6-0 run, with Grady finding the back of the net for the Gaels with 46 seconds left.
With 1:38 gone in the final period, Mischlich scored to cut the home edge to eleven 18-7. Following a Princeton score, Scanlon's goal got Iona within eleven again 19-8 with 4:22 left. In the final 4:06, the squads traded goals as Grady, Arana and Raz scored for the Gaels.
COACH THOUGHTS
While his squad did some "good things," Iona head coach Brian Kelly was disappointed in some unfortunate "mistakes," such as turnovers and lost man-up goals, in the loss. "This was a tough game to lose," Kelly said. "You can't make some of the mistakes we made against one of the best teams in the country. We did a lot of good things, but we turned it over too much and didn't score on our power play."
UP NEXT
On Sunday, the Gaels take on the loser of the Harvard vs Brown semifinal at 11 a.m. for third place in the championship.
