PROVIDENCE, RI – After a 22-11 exhibition match loss to number-seven ranked University of Pacific (Stockton, CA), the Iona men's water polo team dropped its non-conference season opener 13-11 to Wagner College (Staten Island, NY) in the first day of the 2024 Bruno Classic hosted this weekend by Brown University at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatic Center.

Pacific (7) 22 Iona 11

Down by only six goals at halftime, the Gaels managed only five more scores as Iona fell 22-11 to Pacific, who is ranked number-seven in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Preseason Poll. In his Iona debut, freshman Pavle Musikic led the Maroon and Gold (0-1 overall) with three goals on seven shots, while graduate tri-captain Mohamed Refaat and junior Coby Scanlon had two scores each. Senior tri-captain Luksa Vlasic, junior Rastko Jevdjovic, freshman Daniel Raz and freshman Ryan Tannus recorded a goal apiece. The Gaels scored 11 goals on 26 shots on eight assists with two each from Refaat and graduate tri-captain Trippe Bauman. 

In goal, junior Aleksandar Slavkovic had one save on 15 Tigers shots, made one steal and had 11 goals against in the first half. Freshman P.J. Bartzen had one save on three Tigers shots with two goals against in the third period. In the fourth quarter, sophomore Orlando Hernandez had no saves on eight shots and seven goals against and freshman Eric Caplener had one save on three shots and two goals against. On defense, Iona blocked two Pacific shots. Iona drew Pacific 13 kickouts with two each by graduate student James DiSalle, Vlasic and Musikic, including two five-meter penalties, while being ejected with two five-meter penalties. The Gaels turned the ball over ten times. Iona won one of four swim-offs.
           
The Tigers struck first with four straight goals despite two Iona blocks for a 4-0 edge with 3:21 gone in the opening period. Musikic's first Gael goal put Iona on the board with 2:55 remaining as the Tigers led 4-1.Pacific tacked on two more scores for a five-goal 6-1 advantage going into the second period.

Pacific opened the second quarter with two unanswered goals for an 8-1 margin with 1:04 gone. Refaat and Vlasic answered to get Iona back within three 8-3 at the 4:48 mark. After another Pacific score, the teams traded goals with Jevdjovic and Scanlon finding the back of the net for Iona as the Tigers led by six 11-5 at intermission.

Following another Pacific score just 59 ticks into the third period, Bauman missed a five-meter penalty shot as the Tigers led 12-5 with 3:55 to go. Scanlon's second score on a man-up chance sliced the Pacific to six 12-6 with 2:20 left. Three Pacific goals, including consecutive five-meter penalty scores, put the Tigers back up nine 15-6 going into the final period. 

After Refaat buried a five-meter penalty shot, Musikic continued a 2-0 Gaels run until the Tigers answered for a seven-goal 16-8 edge. Musikic struck again, but Pacific answered with two more scores for a 18-9 lead with 4:35 remaining. Raz's first Gael goal cut the Pacific edge back to eight 18-10 with 3:59 on the clock, then the Tigers tacked on two more scores to go up 20-10 with 2:51 remaining. Twenty-two seconds later, Tannus' first Iona score narrowed the Pacific lead to nine 20-11, but the Tigers sealed the 22-11 win with two more straight goals.

Wagner 13 (RV) Iona 12

Despite a 5-3 late fourth quarter rally, Iona dropped its season opener in the final seconds 13-12 to metro rival Wagner College. Valsic and Musikic led Iona with three goals each, while Jevdjovic added two. Bauman, DiSalle and sophomore Matt Mischlich each scored a goal. The Gaels scored 12 goals on 25 shots on nine assists with three by Refaat. 

In goal, Slavkovic had 15 saves on 25 Seahawks shots, made two steals and had 13 goals against. On defense, the Gaels made seven steals. Iona blocked four Wagner shots. Iona drew Wagner 16 kickouts with six by Musikic and five by Mischlich, including three five-meter penalties, while being ejected nine times with two five-meter penalties. The Gaels turned the ball over 18 times. Scanlon won three of four swim-offs.   

The Seahawks needed only 31 seconds into the match to score on their first possession, then followed with three more goals for a 4-0 edge with 4:25 left. Vlasic finally got Iona on the board at the 3:59 mark to slice the Seahawks edge  back to three 4-1. Vlasic's second goal within 1:15 put Iona within two with 2:04 left. Jevdjovic's goal just 1:22 into the second period sliced the Seahawks lead to two 5-3.   Wagner answered on its next chance to regain a three-goal margin 6-3 with 4:57 on the clock. Another consecutive Seahawks goal with 55 ticks left put Wagner back up four 7-3 at intermission. Iona outshot Wagner 12-3 in the first half.

Continuing its 4-0 run into the second half, Wagner took a six-goal 9-3 edge with 6:46 left. DiSalle scored on Iona's next  only 20 ticks later to chop the Seahawks advantage back to five 9-4, but Wagner answered to go up 10-4 with 4:24 remaining. Musikic sparked the Iona offense with two straight scores as the Gaels clawed back within four 10-6 at the 1:16 mark.

Jevdjovic, Vlasic and Bauman, both on five-meter penalty goals, fueled a 4-0 Iona rally to cut Wagner's edge to one 10-9 with 5:39 to go. Following a Wagner five-meter penalty goal to one 10-9 with 5:39 to go. Following a Wagner five-meter penalty goal, Musikic got Iona back within one 11-10 with 4:43 on the clock. Two straight Wagner scores within 19 seconds restored the Seahawks edge to three 13-10 with 4:09 remaining. With Musikic disqualified with three ejections, Refaat and Mischlich got Iona back within one 13-12 with two ticks left, but the Gaels rally fell short for the season's first loss.

UP NEXT

On Sunday, Iona will face California Baptist University at 8:30 a.m. EDT, and Long Island University in a non-conference match at 11:30 a.m. EDT.