game 1: GANNON 17, IONA 15 2OT

In a double-overtime match that featured seven ties and two lead changes, Iona fell 17-15 to Gannon in Monday morning's non-conference action.

Juniors Pavle Musikic and Hugh Coyle led the Maroon & Gold with three goals apiece. Musikic took seven shots, while Coyle recorded five. Junior Daniel Raz, freshmen Christian Couch and Charlie Harbour each scored twice, while junior Brett Grady, junior Ryan Tannus and freshman Jack Robison added one goal apiece. In goal, junior PJ Bartzen made seven saves on 34 Gannon shots.

Iona scored 15 goals on 40 shots and recorded nine assists, with Musikic and Tannus each contributing three. Defensively, the Gaels recorded three steals and blocked seven shots, including four by Grady. Iona drew 13 Golden Knights kickouts, including three disqualifications, with Musikic drawing five, including three five-meter penalties. The Gaels were ejected seven times, including one five-meter penalty, and committed eight turnovers. Iona converted six of 15 man-up opportunities, while Gannon scored three times on six chances.

Grady won two of four six-offs.

Gannon opened the scoring with three straight goals to take a 3-0 lead with 4:33 remaining in the opening period. Harbour ended the Iona drought with 3:18 on the clock, trimming the deficit to two at 3-1 and sparking a 3-0 Gaels run. Coyle converted a five-meter penalty shot with 56 seconds remaining before Raz scored to tie the match at 3-3 heading into the second period.

Gannon regained the lead 1:56 into the second quarter, but Couch converted a man-up opportunity to tie the game at 4-4 with 5:19 remaining. Musikic then gave Iona its first lead, converting a five-meter penalty shot to make it 5-4 with 4:24 on the clock. Coyle added his second goal on a man-up chance with 2:45 remaining to extend the lead to 6-4.

Just 41 seconds later, Robison scored to give the Gaels a three-goal advantage at 7-4. Couch continued Iona's 5-0 run with another man-up goal to make it 8-4, but Gannon scored with three seconds remaining in the half to cut the deficit to three, 8-5.

Gannon scored 16 seconds into the second half to make it 8-6, but Raz answered just over a minute later to restore Iona's three-goal advantage at 9-6. After another Golden Knights goal, Musikic scored his second of the game with 3:52 remaining to put the Gaels ahead 10-7.

Gannon then scored three straight goals to even the match at 10-10 before Iona regained the lead, 11-10, with 1:03 remaining. The Golden Knights answered on their next possession to send the game into the final period tied at 11-11.

Musikic completed his hat trick by converting a five-meter penalty shot 1:40 into the fourth period, putting Iona ahead 12-11. Gannon answered with a five-meter penalty goal 1:02 later to tie the match at 12-12.

With 50 seconds remaining, Harbour scored his second goal to put the Gaels back in front, 13-12. Gannon responded 29 seconds later to tie the game at 13-13 and force overtime.

Grady gave Iona a 14-13 lead with 57 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, but Gannon scored twice to take a 15-14 advantage into the second overtime.

The Golden Knights added two more goals in the second overtime to extend their lead to 17-14. Tannus scored with six seconds remaining, but Gannon held on for the 17-15 victory.

game 2: No. 5 FORDHAM 23, IONA 7

Facing their third nationally ranked opponent in two days, the Gaels fell 23-7 to No. 5 Fordham in Monday afternoon's match.

Musikic led the Maroon & Gold with four goals on eight shots, while Coyle added two goals on four shots. Tannus scored once. In goal, sophomore Kyle Chin Lee made eight saves on 34 Rams shots and recorded three steals.

Iona scored seven goals on 27 shots and recorded four assists. Defensively, the Gaels registered three steals and blocked three shots. Iona drew six Rams kickouts, including three drawn by Musikic and two five-meter penalties, while being ejected five times, including one five-meter penalty. The Gaels committed 17 turnovers. Iona converted two of six man-up opportunities, while Fordham scored four times on five chances. Grady won two of four swim-offs.

Fordham opened the match with three straight goals to take a 3-0 lead with 2:14 gone in the first quarter. Musikic got Iona on the board with 5:12 remaining, trimming the Rams' advantage to 3-1. Fordham answered with four consecutive goals to build a 7-1 lead heading into the second period.

Just 46 seconds into the second quarter, Musikic scooped up a loose ball and scored on a breakaway skip shot to pull Iona within five, 7-2. Fordham answered on its next possession to restore a six-goal advantage at 8-2. Tannus then cut the deficit to five, 8-3, but the Rams scored four straight goals to take a 12-3 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the half.

Fourteen seconds later, Coyle converted a five-meter penalty to bring Iona within eight, 12-4, at halftime.

Fordham opened the third quarter with five consecutive goals before Musikic completed his hat trick for the third time this season, cutting the Rams' advantage to 16-5. Fordham added three more goals before Musikic found the back of the net for the fourth time, making it 19-6 with 2:34 remaining in the third quarter.

The Rams added two more goals before Coyle scored his second of the afternoon to make it 21-7 heading into the final period.

Fordham added two consecutive goals in the fourth quarter to secure the 23-7 victory.

PLAYER THOUGHTS

The team's three co-captains, Bartzen, Musikic and Grady, agreed that the weekend served as a valuable learning experience for Head Coach Brian Kelly's young, talented team.

"The first tournament of the season is hard for every team," they said. "We have such a young, talented team, and there is so much to be excited about. Everyone stepped up and showed that this season is about to be one of the best for us."

UP NEXT

This Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., the Gaels take on Air Force in a non-conference contest at the Greenwich YMCA in Greenwich, Connecticut.