Iowa State defeats FIU 17-14 to advance to ninth-place game

Iowa State Cyclones Overcome Florida International Lead to Secure Ninth-Place Playoff Spot

The Iowa State University Cyclones staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback in Huntsville, Alabama, to defeat the No. 10-ranked Florida International University (FIU) with a 17-14 victory. According to the scoresheet provided by collegiatewaterpolo.org, the Missouri Valley Division champions overcame a late deficit to advance to the 2026 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship Ninth Place game.

The contest at the Huntsville Aquatics Center saw a significant shift in momentum during the final period. Florida International, the Florida Division champions, held a 12-11 lead heading into the third quarter and appeared to be in control after Yassin Moussa scored to extend their advantage to 13-11. However, the Cyclones responded with a decisive run that ultimately decided the match.

The Fourth Quarter Turnaround

The momentum swung back to Iowa State through a series of clinical strikes. Jorge Stewart Davila, a freshman from Frisco, Texas, tied the game with a man-up goal at the 4:48 mark. Shortly after, Juan Garay, a freshman from Lima, Peru, leveled the score with a penalty shot at 3:22. The Cyclones did not stop there; Davila found the net again at 2:51, followed by Maxwell Moore at 2:15, to give Iowa State a lead they would not relinquish.

Sources: FIU has named Appalachian State/Iowa State transfer JJ Kohl the team’s starting quarterback. Kohl threw for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns last year at App State. Kohl, who is 6-7 and 250 pounds, will debut for FIU at South Florida on Sept. 5. pic.twitter.com/bos6nM81mj

— https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/2089681034656796954

While Moussa attempted to spark a FIU rally with a goal at 1:54, the Cyclones’ veteran presence closed the door. Senior Chris Cottrill scored a man-up goal at 1:26, and Davila secured the win with a final strike with only 39 seconds remaining on the clock.

The statistical breakdown of the scoring highlights the depth of the Iowa State offense:

Player	Goals Scored
Tovi Kharpak (So.)	4
Jorge Stewart Davila (Fr.)	3
Juan Garay (Fr.)	3
Chris Cottrill (Sr.)	1
Mohamed Elliboudy (Jr.)	1

Individual Performances and Defensive Standouts

For Florida International, Yassin Moussa was the standout performer, leading all scorers with six goals. Yassin Taymour added five goals to the Golden Panthers’ total, while Lester Machado contributed two, and Guillermo Reboredo added one. Despite the loss, FIU’s offensive pressure remained high throughout the match, even as they struggled to contain the Cyclones’ late-game surge.

On the defensive end, Iowa State relied heavily on freshman Lucas Adell, who recorded 12 saves to keep the Cyclones within striking distance during FIU’s high-scoring periods. For the Golden Panthers, Connor Altentado made five saves in the losing effort.

Looking Ahead to the Championship Weekend Finals

The result moves Iowa State into a matchup for ninth place against the New England Division Champion, Yale University. This game is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, at 2:15 p.m. Central. This marks a significant return to the national stage for the Cyclones, who previously placed 13th in 2005 and 15th in both 2005 and 2024.

Florida International will move into the 11th-place game, where they will face the Great Lakes Division Champion and No. 16-ranked University of Notre Dame. That contest is slated for 3:30 p.m., serving as the 30th and final game of the championship weekend. FIU enters the consolation bracket with a history of high finishes at the national level, having previously secured second, fifth, sixth, and seventh-place rankings in past appearances.