NEW ROCHELLE, NY – After honoring its four graduating seniors and two graduate students, the Iona men's water polo team gave them an early graduation present with an upset conference win over number-18 ranked Brown University in a Northeast Water Polo match here this afternoon. The victory marked the Gaels' first win over Brown since 2009.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels honored seniors Rastko Jevdjovic, Matthew Mischlich, Coby Scanlon and Aleksandar Slavkovic, and graduate students Edward Imm and Luka Nastic. Jevdjovic led the Maroon and Gold (4-9 overall, 2-2 NEWPC) with six goals on eight shots. Nastic, Mischlich, Scanlon, junior Hugh Coyle, sophomores Jayden Arana, Pavle Misikic and Ryan Tannus scored one goal apiece. The Gaels scored 13 goals on 29 shots on 11 assists with four from Jevdjovic and three from Coyle. 

In goal, senior Slavkovic had no saves on nine Bears shots, and had four goals against. Freshman P.J. Bartzen had 13 saves on 25 Bears shots and had seven goals against. On defense, Iona blocked one Brown shot. The Gaels made two steals. Iona drew 18 Brown kickouts with eight by Misikic and three by Scanlon, and drew no five-meter penalty shots, while being ejected 18 times with one five-meter penalty.  Imm, Scanlon, Slavkovic, Jevdjovic and Misikic were disqualified. The Gaels turned the ball over four times. Scanlon won three of four swim-offs. Iona scored five goals on 18 man-up chances, while Brown had one man-up goal on 13 chances.

With 57 seconds gone in the match, Jevdjovic got Iona on the board first for a 1-0 lead. The Bears tied the game at one with 3:04 to go in the opening period. Jevdjovic struck again just 25 seconds later to put the Gaels back up one 2-1. Three straight Brown scores put the visitors up two 4-2 with 11 seconds remaining.

Neither squad scored until 5:45 into the second period when Jevdjovic's third goal cut the Brown edge to one 4-3. The Bears answered 1:03 later to go back up two 5-3. Jevdjovic's fourth score got Iona back within one 5-4 at the 3:44 mark. With 27 seconds left, Tannus locked the match at five each at intermission.

Iona outscored Brown 7-1 in the third period. With 34 ticks gone, Misikic put Iona back up one, but the Bears answered on their next chance to retie the score at six. Three straight Iona scores from Nastic, Jevdjovic gave the Gaels a three-goal 9-6 edge with 4:36 remaining. Mischlich, Coyle and Jevdjovic tacked on three more goals for a six-score 12-6 home advantage going into the final period.

After Brown scored with 39 seconds gone in the final period, Arana answered to put the Gaels back up six 13-7. Two straight Bears goals got the visitors back within four 13-9 with 5:10 remaining. Continuing a 5-1 run, Brown found the back of the net twice, but missed a five-meter penalty shot (1:51) in the closing 2:36 as the Gaels held on for the upset Senior Day conference win.

COACH THOUGHTS

Pleased with the upset win, Iona head coach Brian Kelly credited his squad with strong defense. "This was a huge team win for us today," Kelly said. "Brown is always one of the best teams in the country. I thought we played one of the best defensive games as a team that I've seen in years. Our perimeter defenders played outstanding. Roscoe played a shutdown game in center defense and PJ Bartzen had the best game of his career in goal."

UP NEXT

On Friday, the Gaels travel to Fordham University for a 6 p.m. non-conference match.