Iona University Reels In 16-9 Northeast Water Polo Conference Victory Versus Long Island University
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Just two weeks after a thrilling one-goal, last-minute 18-17 road win at Long Island University on October 8, the Iona University men’s water polo team defeated the visiting Sharks by a 16-9 score in a Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) match at home in the Hynes Center Pool.
Graduate student Mohamed Refaat, senior Luksa Vlasic, junior Rastko Jevdjovic and junior Coby Scanlon led the Maroon & Gold with three goals each. Sophomore Jayden Arana added two scores, while senior William Harrington and freshman Pavle Musikic put away solo markers. The Gaels scored 16 goals on 36 shots and made six assists with three by Vlasic.
In goal, junior Aleksandar Slavkovic had 10 saves on 24 Sharks shots, made five steals, dished out a pair of assists and permitted nine goals.
On defense, the Gaels made 12 steals, blocked four shots and drew six Sharks’ kickouts with two by Musikic, including one five-meter penalty, while being ejected 15 times, including two five-meter penalties. Iona scored two goals on five man-up chances, while LIU had two goals on 14 opportunities. The Gaels turned the ball over 15 times. Scanlon won three of four sprints.
Pleased with his squad’s performance, especially on defense, Iona head coach Brian Kelly particularly appreciated the contributions of Jevdovic, Slavkovic and his freshmen.
“Today was an excellent defensive game led by our top defensive player Rastko Jevdjovic and our starting goaltender, Aleksandar Slavkovic, who returned from injury that put him out for six weeks,” Kelly said. “We also got a ton of great contributions from our freshmen class.”
After winning the opening sprint, Scanlon needed only 53 seconds to give Iona a 1-0 edge. On the Gaels’ next two possessions, Musikic and Refaat followed for a 3-0 home advantage by the 5:39 mark of the first quarter. Following a timeout, LIU answered with three straight goals to tie the game at three-all with 2:18 on the clock. However, Scanlon connected on his second goal from the left corner for a 4-3 Iona advantage going into the second quarter.
On the Gaels’ first two second-quarter chances, Jedjovic and Vlasic continued a 3-0 Iona run for a 6-3 margin just 1:30 into the frame. Vlasic and Jedjovic recorded their second goals as the hosts went up 8-3 with 4:11 until halftime. After an LIU score, Arana struck on a man-up chance with 58 seconds left, but the Sharks chomped back 11 seconds later to trim the Gaels’ edge back to four at 9-5 heading into halftime.
The Sharks trimmed the Iona edge back to 9-6 to commence the third quarter, but Scanlon’s third goal put the home squad back in front by four at 10-6 with 1:54 gone in the second half. After Vlasic missed a five-meter penalty shot, Refaat found the back of the net for the second time to enlarge the margin to 11-6 with 4:37 remaining on the clock. Vlasic’s second goal upped the Iona edge to six at 12-6 with 2:31 to play in the third quarter.
The Gaels continued a 6-0 run as Refaat, Arana and Jedjovic pumped in points for a 15-6 edge with 5:28 to go in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back-to-back Sharks scores sliced the Gaels edge down to 15-9 at the 4:05 mark prior to a strike by Harrington sealing a 16-9 win with 2:03 left in regulation.
Information courtesy Iona University Athletics Communications
