NEW ROCHELLE , NY- After mounting a 2-0 early lead in a first half featuring six ties and two lead changes, the Iona men's water polo got back within two goals to Wagner College in the fourth quarter, but fell 15-11 to the Seahawks in a non-conference home match this evening at Hynes Pool.

Senior co-captain Coby Scanlon and sophomore Pavle Musikic led the Maroon and Gold (2-7 overall) with three goals each, while sophomore Daniel Raz scored twice. Senior Rasko Jevdjkovic, senior co-captain Matthew Mischlich and sophomore Ryan Tannus added one goal apiece. The Gaels scored 11 goals on 26 shots on ten assists with three from Jevdjkovic. In goal, senior Aleksandar Slavkovic had five saves on 21 Seahawks shots, made two steals and had 15 goals against.

On defense, Iona blocked four Wagner shots. The Gaels made nine steals with three by Scanlon. Iona drew 26 Seahawks kickouts with one five-meter penalty, while being ejected 15 times with one five-meter penalty. Musikic and Tannus were disqualified in with three ejections each. The Gaels turned the ball over ten times. Scanlon won three of four swimoffs. Iona scored seven goals on 26 man-up chances.

Scanlon needed only 19 seconds into the match to put the Gaels up by one 1-0. Musikic followed to give Iona a 2-0 edge with 1:50. The Seahawks finally got on the board with a man-up goal to slice the home lead back to one 2-1 at the 3:30 mark. On a 3-0 late first-quarter run, Wagner pulled ahead by one 3-2 going into the second period.

In the second period, Iona outscored Wagner 5-4. With 24 seconds gone, Musikic re-tied the game at three all, but the visitors scored on their next chance to go back up one 4-3 with 7:06 to go. Jevdjkovic knotted the score at four, then Wagner answered for a one-goal 5-4 edge with 6:43 left. Taking advantage of a man-up chance, Scanlon created a five-all tie with 5:41 remaining only to have the Seahawks regain the lead 6-5 just 14 seconds later on their next trip down the pool. Scanlon's third goal resulted in a six-all deadlock with 3:54 remaining. The Gaels retook a one-goal edge 7-6 on Musikic's third score with 2:08 on the clock. With 35 seconds left in the half, Wagner's counter goal reknotted the game at seven all at intermission.

The Seahawks opened the third period with three unanswered scores, including a five-meter penalty goal, to go up three 10-7 at the 5:01 mark. Tannus ended the Gaels offensive drought to pull Iona within two 10-8, but the Seahawks responded for a three-goal cushion 11-8 with 2:44 remaining. Mischlich got Iona back within two at 11-9 with 2:11 on the clock. With 32 seconds on the clock, Wagner answered, but Raz found the back of the net with 13 seconds left to slice the visitors' lead back to two 12-10 going into the final period.

Only 50 seconds into the final period, Wagner upped its edge to three 13-10. Raz's second score sliced the visitors' edge back to two 13-11 with 5:32 left. Two straight Wagner goals in the final 43 seconds sealed the Seahawks road win.

UP NEXT

The Gaels open their North East Water Polo Conference schedule home against Princeton University at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 27.