PELHAM, NY – Down just two goals at the start of the final period, the Iona University Men's Water Polo Team opened its Northeast Water Polo Conference schedule with a 14-10 loss to No. 18 (tie) Brown University this morning at the New York Athletic Club. The match marked the first outdoor college water polo game in Northeast water polo history.
GAME SUMMARY
Freshman Christian Couch led the Maroon and Gold (2-8 overall, 0-1 NWPC) with four goals on seven shots. At the same time, junior co-captain Pavle Musikic, junior Daniel Raz and junior Ryan Tannus had two goals apiece. In goal, junior co-captain PJ Bartzen had 12 saves on 27 Bears shots, including a five-meter penalty shot, with 14 goals against, one assist and three steals.
The Gaels scored ten goals on 37 shots and recorded five assists, including two from junior Hugh Coyle. On defense, Iona made 11 steals, with three by freshman Logan Hardel. Couch and freshman Charlie Harbour each blocked a shot. The Gaels drew nine Bears kick-outs, with five by Musikic, including two five-meter penalties and two disqualifications, while being ejected eight times, including one five-meter penalty. Iona committed 14 turnovers. The Gaels scored two man-up goals on nine chances, while Brown had three goals on three man-up opportunities. Grady won three of four swim-offs.
With 1:29 gone in the match, Couch got Iona on the board first for a 1-0 edge, but Brown answered with four straight scores for a 4-1 advantage with 1:06 left in the opening period. Tannus sliced the Bears' edge to two, 4-2, with 35 ticks left.
The Bears needed just 24 seconds into the second quarter to regain a three-goal, 5-2 cushion. Tannus' second score got Iona back within two, 5-3. Two straight Brown goals upped the Bears' margin to four, 7-3, with 2:39 on the clock. Raz got the Gaels back within three, 7-4, on Iona's next trip down the pool, but with 1:35 to go, Brown went back up four, 8-4, at halftime.
Just 26 ticks into the second half, Couch struck again to cut the Bears' lead back to three, 8-5. After Musikic missed a five-meter penalty try, Bartzen blocked a Bears five-meter penalty attempt. Coyle also missed a five-meter penalty try before Musikic cut the Bears' edge to two, 8-6, at the 4:08 mark. With 1:04 remaining, Brown retook a three-score, 9-6, advantage going into the final period.
Couch needed just 41 seconds to get Iona back within two, 9-7, but Brown answered on its next chance for a 10-7 advantage with 6:58 on the clock. The Bears upped their lead to four, 11-7, with 5:27 left. Couch's fourth goal got Iona back within three, 11-8, with 3:42 to go. Musikic continued a 2-0 Gaels rally as Iona chopped the Bears' edge to two, 11-9, but Brown answered for a three-goal, 12-9, advantage with 2:08 on the clock. A Bears man-up score with 1:13 remaining, along with another Brown goal, sealed the visitors' 14-10 win despite Raz's second goal with seven ticks left.
UP NEXT
On Sunday, the Gaels travel to Princeton, NJ, to face Mount Saint Mary's University at 9:30 a.m. EDT and Bucknell University at 2 p.m. EDT.
