SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Trailing by just two goals going into the second quarter, the Iona University men’s water polo team fell 20-8 to No. 19-ranked/host Santa Clara University at the Julian Frazier Memorial Tournament.
Junior co-captain Pavle Musikic, junior Daniel Raz, junior Ryan Tannus, sophomore Toni Vlasic, sophomore Samson Williams, freshman Christian Couch, freshman Jack Robison and freshman Tate Wilson all scored one goal for the Maroon and Gold.
In goal, junior PJ Bartzen had four saves on 18 Santa Clara shots, one steal and 11 goals against in the first half. Junior Eric Caplener posted six saves on 19 Santa Clara shots and nine goals against in the second half.The Gaels scored eight goals on 33 shots and scored four assists. On defense, Iona made four steals. The Gaels drew 13 kick-outs, five by Musikic and four by Couch, including one five-meter penalty, while being ejected three times, including two five-meter penalties. Iona committed 12 turnovers. Iona scored three man-up goals on 13 chances, while Santa Clara scored one man-up goal on three chances. Junior co-captain Brett Grady won one of four swim-offs.
With 1:38 gone in the match, the Broncos got on the board first with a five-meter penalty goal for a 1-0 edge. Another Santa Clara shot floated into the cage for a 2-0 home lead with 4:52 left in the opening eight minutes. Couch cut the Santa Clara advantage back to one at 2-1 with 2:49 remaining and Robison tied the match with 54 seconds remaining in the quarter. However, a pair of Santa Clara goals in the closing 44 seconds allowed the home team to regain a two-goal/4-2 edge going into the second quarter.
Continuing a 4-0 run, the home squad built a 6-2 cushion with 5:23 until halftime. A five-meter penalty goal by Raz cut the Santa Clara lead back to 6-3 before the Broncos restored a four-score edge at 7-3. Williams tapped in a rebound to move the Gaels to within 7-4, but Santa Clara answered for an 8-4 margin with 3:47 left on the clock. Four consecutive Santa Clara goals in the closing 3:47 gave the Broncos an 11-4 halftime edge.
Two straight Gaels goals sliced the home advantage back to 11-6 with 4:18 to go in the third quarter. The Broncos responded with a quartet of strikes, including a five-meter penalty score, to push ahead 15-6 with 1:35 on the clock remaining in the frame.
After another Broncos’ goal, Tannus capitalized on a man-up chance at 4:55 to get the Gaels back within nine at 16-7 in the fourth quarter. Following three more Santa Clara scores, Vlasic found the back of the net to cut the home lead to 19-8 at the 2:27 mark prior to another Santa Clara strike at 1:35 sealed the 20-8 home win.
Information courtesy Iona University Athletics Communications
