BROOKLYN, NY -After giving up eight unanswered first-half goals, the Iona men's water polo team matched Long Island University with eight scores in the second half but fell short by three, 13-10, in a Northeast Water Polo Conference loss here this evening.
GAME SUMMARY
Freshman Jack Robison led the Maroon and Gold (6-15 overall, 1-5 NEWPC) with three on six shots, while junior Hugh Coyle had two scores on four shots. Junior co-captain Brett Grady, junior co-captain Pavel Musikic, Junior Daniel Raz, junior Ryan Tannus, freshman Logan Hardel added one score each.
In goal, junior co-captain P.J. Bartzen had 10 saves on 21 LIU shots, one steal and seven goals against. Junior Eric Caplener had no saves on seven LIU shots and six goals against.
The Gaels scored 10 goals on 26 shots and scored six assists. On defense, Iona made five steals and blocked three shots. The Gaels drew 11 kick-outs, three by freshman Christian Couch, including three five-meter penalties, while being ejected 11 times, including one five-meter penalty. Iona committed 18 turnovers. Iona scored three man-up goals on 12 chances, while LIU scored two man-up goals on eight chances. Grady won all four swim-offs.
With 1:35 in the match, the Sharks got on the board first for a 1-0 edge. With 3:25 left in the opening period, LIU struck again on a five-meter penalty to go up 2-1. After Raz scored, the hosts went up 3-1 with 2:40 on the clock. Robison continued an Iona 2-0 run as the Gaels got back within one, 3-2, with 1:02 remaining. With three ticks left, the hosts regained a two-goal 4-2 advantage going into the second period.
Continuing a 4-0 run, LIU went up 7-2 with 5:14 in the second period. In the closing 1:08, the Sharks tacked on three more unanswered goals for a 10-2 halftime cushion as the Gaels failed to score in the second quarter.
Iona outscored LIU 5-2 in the third period. Musikic needed only 23 seconds into the third period to end the Iona offensive drought, but LIU restored its eight-goal lead, 11- 3, on its next trip down the pool. Coyle and Tannus cut the home edge back to six 11-5 with 5:53 on the clock. LIU took advantage of a man-up chance to go back up seven 12-5, then Grady found the back of the net to pull the Gaels back within six 12-6 with 4:05 left. After Iona missed a five-meter penalty shot, with 38 seconds left, Hardel sliced the home edge to five 12-7 going into the final period.
Just 1:33 into the fourth quarter, LIU went back up six 13-7. Robison's second goal of the game sliced the Sharks' edge to five 13-8 with 2:19 left in regulation. Coyle rebounded his five-meter penalty miss into the back of the net, followed by Robison's third score to get the Gaels within three 13-10 with 50 ticks left, but the Sharks sealed their win 21 seconds later.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow evening, Iona heads down to The Bronx to battle number-five-ranked Fordham University in a non-conference match for the Dr. Francis X. Judge Cup at 5:30 p.m.
