PELHAM, N.Y. — The No. 18-ranked Brown University men’s water polo team improved to 5-1, 1–0 Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC), by defeating host Iona University, 14-10, in the inaugural NWPC game of the 2026 season.
The teams competed at at the New York Athletic Club marking the first-ever outdoor conference game and what is believed to be the first collegiate varsity outdoor game in the northeastern United States.
“Today was a great way for us to open conference play, especially against a quality opponent like Iona,” Director of Water Polo Felix Mercado commented. “What made the day even more special was the incredible setting at the New York Athletic Club Travers Island pool. Everyone there made us feel so welcome, and their staff did a tremendous job making this a great experience for our team. We’re grateful for the opportunity to play in such a special venue, and we’d love to see this become a tradition that we can look forward to every year.”
Brown took the lead over Iona in the first quarter and held onto it for the remainder of the game. Mac Berry opened up the scoring for the Bears just two minutes into the game, followed by two goals each from Filip Josipovic and Roland Csendes. Freshman Robert Norell scored his first collegiate goal with 0:53 left in the first. As Brown entered the second leading 4-2, Berry, Norell and Csendes each recorded another goal while Colton Bell netted his first of the game.
Csendes scored the lone Bears’ goal in the third, earning his first hat trick of the season. Dominik Balla also earned a hat trick in the fourth quarter, marking his 15th goal of the season. Bell and Hugo Molnar each found the back of the net in the fourth quarter as Brown finished with a 14-10 win over Iona.
Dimitrios Kratimenos earned 14 saves through three quarters and Ryan Miele made seven saves in the final quarter for the Bears.
Release courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
