PRINCETON, NJ – Wrapping up the 2024 campaign, the fourth-seeded Iona University men's water polo team fell 20-13 to number-two-seeded Harvard University this morning for a fourth-place finish in the Northeast Water Polo Conference Championship hosted by Princeton University here this weekend.
GAME SUMMARY
Graduate student James Di Salle led the Maroon and Gold (12-15 overall) with three goals on four shots. Senior co-captain Luksa Vlasic, junior Coby Scanlon and freshman Ryan Tannus had two goals each, while graduate co-captain Mohamed Refaat, junior Rastko Jevdjovic, sophomore Jayden Arana and freshman John Barrett scored one goal apiece. The Gaels scored 13 goals on 53 shots and made 11 assists with two each from Refaat, Vlasic and Scanlon.
In goal, Aleksandar Slavkovic had four saves on 28 Crimson shots, four steals and had 20 goals against. On defense, the Gaels made nine steals with two by Refaat. Iona drew 15 Princeton kickouts with four by freshman Pavle Musikic, including one five-meter penalty, while being ejected nine times with one five-meter penalty. The Gaels turned the ball over 13 times. Iona scored three of nine man-up chances, while Harvard, ranked number-16 nationally, scored on three of five man-up chances. Scanlon won three of four swim offs.
With 2:36 gone in the match, the Crimson struck first, then tacked on two more scores for a 3-0 edge with 4:02 remaining in the opening period. Jevdjovic got the Gaels on the board to pull Iona within two 3-1 with 3:12 left, but Harvard answered with three straight scores for a five-goal 6-1 advantage going into the second period.
After Harvard opened the second quarter with another goal, DiSalle got Iona back within five 7-2 with 1:50 gone. The Crimson scored on its next chance, then Vlasic and DiSalle found the back of the net to slice the Harvard edge to four 8-4 with 3:05 to go. In the closing 2:55, Harvard reeled off four unanswered scores for a seven-goal 12-4 halftime advantage.
Barrett needed only 20 seconds to covert a man-up chance and cut Harvard's lead back to seven 12-5. Just 40 ticks later, Vlasic's second goal got the Gaels within six 12-6. Following three Crimson scores, Scanlon hit a man-up goal as Harvard led 15-7 with 1:57 remaining. With 16 seconds left, Harvard scored for a nine-goal 16-7 cushion going into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Harvard tacked on two more goals, then Scanlon's second score cut the Crimson lead to ten 18-10 with 5:19 on the clock. Following a five-meter Harvard penalty goal, DiSalle's third goal pushed the Crimson lead back to ten 19-9. After another Crimson goal, in the closing 2:53, Iona rallied with a four-goal run with two scores by Tannus, and single goals by Arana and Rafaat.
COACH THOUGHTS
While disappointed with today's outcome, Iona head coach Brian Kelly was pleased with the ''positive moments" of four freshmen during the three-game championship weekend. "It was a very disappointing game," Kelly said. "We didn't play well in any facet of the game. The highlight of this weekend was that we had a lot of freshmen step up to contribute. Brett Grady, John Barrett, Hugh Coyle, Ryan Tannis – all delivered positive moments this weekend."
