NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College men’s water polo team dropped a close 15-11 decision to No. 17 Saint Francis Brooklyn Thursday evening in CWPA Northern Division action at the Hynes Athletics Center.
Senior Jake Lloyd led the Gaels with five goals, while junior Zach Presto scored four times. Senior Ian Thompson and sophomore Chris Ellis scored the final Iona tallies.
The Terriers led from start to finish, grabbing a 2-0 lead before Thompson scored Iona’s first tally. After another St. Francis goal, Lloyd’s first of the contest trimmed the deficit to one, 3-2, after the first quarter.
The Terriers opened the second quarter with four straight to grab a 7-2 lead, before Iona scored three of the final four goals, slicing the deficit to three, 8-5, at half. Each team scored twice in the third quarter, with Lloyd netting both goals for the Gaels.
Lloyd scored the first goal of the fourth to cut the margin to two, 10-8, before a 5-1 run by the Terriers gave the visitors a 15-9 lead. Iona kept the game close with late goals by Lloyd and Ellis.
The Gaels are back in action this Saturday at Princeton, beginning with a 10:00 am matchup against Washington & Jefferson.