New Rochelle, NY - A hat trick by Aly Lo helped push the Iona College men's soccer team to a 4-3 win over Saint Peter's this afternoon at Mazzella Field. The Gaels (5-6-0, 2-0-0) remain undefeated in conference play this season.
The Maroon & Gold wasted no time and jumped on the board immediately. Following a Saint Peter's foul in the second minute, Iona senior Bryan Oelkers took a tap from Pasquale Abiuso and netted an 18 yard free kick for a 1-0 Gael lead. In the early part of the game, the Peacocks were unable to penetrate a solid Iona backfield trio of Oelkers, Eric Brown, and Roberto Hernandez-Raaen. They managed to break through in the 24th minute and tie the score at one with a Murphy Wiredu goal, assisted by Juan Gaviria.
Gaviria lifted Saint Peter's to a 2-1 advantage six minutes later. Taking a pass from Victor Prada, Gaviria angled a shot from the right side past Iona goalkeeper Nils Binstock. The visitor's lead was short lived, however, as Lo scored his first of three goals on the day off a feed from Fernando Liserra in the 34th minute.
The majority of the second half was played at a 2-2 tie until Lo added another goal for the Gaels in the 86th minute, this time on an assist from Oelkers. The Peacocks would not let it end there, sending the match into overtime on an Udi Naim goal.
Lo netted his seventh goal of the year, and the game-winner, in extra minutes when he headed a throw-in from Oelkers through the hands of Saint Peter's netminder Matthew Lawlor.
Iona trailed 13-9 in shot attempts but held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Binstock played all 105 minutes in the net, making three saves.
The Gaels pick back up on the week's action with a game on Friday (Oct. 12) at Rider.