After a disappointing season last year, Iona’s water polo team got off to a resounding start in the Navy Labor Day Open.

In their first match of the season against Notre Dame College, 14 different Gaels scored to give Iona a 20-8 victory.

Freshman Jake Lloyd had four points in his Iona debut on three goals and one assist, while fellow freshman Tyler Mancuso scored twice.  Junior Kristian Bocage and sophomore Matthew Stelnicki also had two goals in the rout.

Following the win, the Gaels had a much sterner test from Vanguard in the nightcap. 

Iona was tied with the Lions at ten in the fourth quarter when a Bocage goal gave the Gaels a one-goal advantage. 

Vanguard tied the game shortly afterward, but another Bocage goal with two minutes remaining gave the Gaels a crucial win.

“We had very solid performances from many guys on the team. A slight lapse in concentration in the fourth quarter almost cost us the game but we rallied as a team with some very tactical offensive plays and held on,” Bocage said. “At the end of the fourth we were awarded a six on five opportunity, my team had the confidence in me to give me the ball, so I knew I had to take the shot, and well, it paid