PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — La Salle University men’s water polo celebrated Senior Day by making history as the Explorers defeated Iona College, 19-15, in Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)-East Region, Southern Section competition to earn the program’s first home victory. Earlier in the day, the Explorers fell to No. 9-ranked the United States Naval Academy, 14-5.
Senior Daniel Domotor scored seven goals on the day, six in the later game. Classmate Cole Strohson finished with three goals and four assists.
Facing the nationally-ranked Midshipmen, La Salle fell behind 2-0 before Strohson cut into that lead prior to the conclusion of the opening quarter.
Domotor struck first in the second to tie the game. Navy promptly responded and later added another as the teams entered the half.
The teams traded goals out of the break before the visitors added two more to go up 7-3. Junior Tyler Williams got on the board, but Navy had a response.
The Midshipmen truly separated themselves in the final frame, where they tallied six unanswered before Williams struck again at the close of the game.
Strohson and Williams were the two Explorers with multi-goal games, each recording a brace.
Strohson also added two steals, three exclusions earned and a block. Williams tallied three rejections.
Domotor found the back of the net once and earned three lockouts drawn.
Freshman Veljko Kotarica received the start in net and didn’t disappoint with six saves on 10 shots.
Fellow rookie goalkeeper Tanner Powell did not face any shots in the cage, but he did get a rare opportunity in the field and converted. He was allowed to venture beyond the half and assisted Williams’ last goal.
In the late game versus Iona, freshman Kiahi Horan opened his collegiate account to start the game. The Gaels countered with two of their own and sophomore Callin Chimilar answered back to tie things up. The Explorers caught fire after that and score six straight to finish the frame up 8-2.
Chimilar continued to ride a hot hand and netted twice to begin the second. The teams went back and forth the rest of the way to conclude the half with La Salle leading 13-5.
After exchanging goals at the start of the third quarter, Strohson scored to make it 16-7 — La Salle’s largest lead of the game. Iona began to chip away at the Explorers’ advantage and concluded the quarter down 18-11.
The momentum was palpably in favor of the visitors to commence the final quarter. The Gaels scored four unanswered to shrink La Salle’s lead to 18-15. However, a late lob from Strohson to the outreaching wingspan of Domotor connected and the Hungarian flicked the ball over the goalkeeper to allow for breathing room.
Domotor was lethal in this match, striking six times on nine shots. He also added five steals.
Strohson did it all, again, scoring twice, assisting four and tallying four steals.
Not to get left out, the other two seniors made their impact felt. Karl Miller recorded a hat-trick and Ash Lyne scored once and drew two kickouts.
Youth was also on full display in this one. Horan and Chimilar played pivotal roles in the Explorers’ fast start, each racking up seven points in the first half alone. Horan would finish with three goals and four assists, while Chimilar tallied four goals, three assists, two steals and three exclusions earned.
In net, Kotarica finished with nine saves while Powell had five.
Release courtesy La Salle University Athletics Communications
