PROVIDENCE, RI - With the match tied at four going into the second quarter, the Iona men's water polo team allowed five straight Bucknell goals, then rallied with three scores in the final 1:44, but fell short by one goal in a 16-15 non-conference loss to Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA) in the second day of the 2024 Bruno Classic hosted this weekend by Brown University at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatic Center.

GAME SUMMARY

Sophomore Pavlik Musikic led the Maroon and Gold (1-2 overall) with four goals on six shots, while freshman Samson Williams had three scores on six shots. Seniors Edward Imm and co-captain Mitch Mischlich added two goals apiece. Senior co-captain Ratsko Jevdjovic, junior Jayden Arana, sophomores Ryan Tannis and Hugh Coyle all scored once. The Gaels scored 15 goals on 39 shots on 13 assists with three each from Mischlich, Coyle and freshman Carter Williamson.

In goal, senior Aleksandar Slavkovic had 11 saves on 30 Bison shots, made seven steals and had 16 goals against. On defense, Iona blocked three Bucknell shots. The Gaels made 11 steals. Iona drew 11 Bison kickouts, while being ejected seven times with three five-meter penalties. The Gaels turned the ball over 13 times. Iona won two of four swimoffs. Iona scored twice on ten man-up chances, while Bucknell had four goals on seven chances.

Imm put Iona on the board first with 5:24 to go in the opening period for a 1-0 edge. Mischlich followed on a man-up chance to build a two-goal Iona lead with 4:10 left. Bucknell sliced the Gaels advantage back to one at the 2:58 mark, but Coyle answered on the Gaels next chance to restore a two-goal 3-1 lead just 19 ticks later. After a Bison man-up score, Musikic regained Iona's two-score cushion 4-2. Two straight Bucknell goals tied the game at four all with 15 seconds remaining.

Neither squad scored until Bucknell took a one-goal edge 5-4 with 4:03 left in the second quarter. Continuing a 5-0 run, two consecutive Bison scores, including a five-meter penalty shot, went up three 4-4 with 3:06 on the clock. Musikic's second score snapped the Bucknell rally to get Iona back within two 7-5 with 2:33 left. With 30 ticks left, the Bison hit a five-meter penalty goal for an 8-5 halftime advantage.

After Bucknell opened the second half with a rebound score, Musikic's third goal followed by Jevdjovic sliced the Bison edge back to two 9-7 with 1:13 gone. The Bison went backup three 10-7, but Mischlich's second goal got the Gaels within two 10-8 with 5:40 remaining. With his fourth goal, Musikic cut the Bucknell lead to one 10-9 at the four-minute mark. Following a Bison goal, Williams scored, but Bucknell answered for a two-goal cushion 12-10 with 2:06 left. The Bison tacked on a five-meter penalty goal with 50 ticks left for a three-goal 13-10 advantage going into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, Iona outscored Bucknell 5-3. With another counter goal, Bucknell went up four 14-10 with 49 seconds gone in the fourth quarter. On a 4-0 run, the Bison went up five 15-10 with 4:36 remaining. Williams' second score followed by Arana got Iona back within three 15-12 with 2:41 to go. Following a Bison score, William, Imm and Tannis put Iona within one 16-15 with 1:22 on the clock. With Slavkovic out of goal for a field player, Mischlich's last-second point-blank shot was stopped at the buzzer as was the Gaels three-goal rally in the final 1:44.

PLAYER THOUGHTS

Senior co-captain Rastko Jevdjovic praised his teammate's "good fight" for the entire contest and was confident the weekend was a positive experience, especially for the newcomers. "I think that the game should have been won," Jevdjovic said. "I congratulate all my teammates on fighting a good fight until the end of the game. We had a lot success in both offensive and defensive plays. There is going to be a lot of things that we can learn and improve from this game. I think new guys played well and are going to improve even more."

UP NEXT

The Gaels travel to Southern California next week for five non-conference matches. On Friday, Iona faces Concordia University Irvine at 4:40 p.m. EDT, and the University of Redlands at 9:40 p.m. EDT, in the 2025 Inland Empire Classic. On Saturday, Iona takes on Fresno Pacific University at 2:40 p.m. EDT, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 8 p.m. EDT. On Monday, Iona plays the University of LaVerne at 7 p.m. EDT before heading home.