New Rochelle, NY - This afternoon's men's soccer game began with the celebration of senior day, as Iona College seniors Pasquale Abiuso, Robert Blake, Eric Brown, Chris Butler, Ariel Castellanos, Michael Ferenci, Sebastian Garcia-Lopez, Bryan Oelkers, and Paul Racines were recognized before the contest.  The Gaels went on to shut down Canisius with a 5-0 victory.  Racines had a huge day as he recorded a hat trick, while Abiuso netted a pair of goals.

Iona improved to 4-2-0 in the MAAC (7-8-0 overall), while Canisius fell to 3-2-0 (4-9-0 overal).

Abiuso got things started for the Gaels, putting his team on the scoreboard with a goal in the eighth minute.  He headed in a free kick off the foot of fellow co-captain Oelkers.  Abiuso added his second goal of the afternoon as he booted the ball from close range past Golden Griffins keeper Matt Wopperer.  Iona rookie Mario Rios earned an assist on the play.

The Gaels came back from halftime sporting a 2-0 lead, which would be stretched to 3-0 with Racines' first of three goals on the day.  Oelkers picked up his second assist as his long throw-in was taken off the head of Racines for the score in the 60th minute.  Ten minutes later Racines would add another, this one off his foot following a corner kick taken by Ferenci. 

Racines capped off his remarkable day with a free kick from just outside the penalty area in the 82nd minute that soared into the back of the net.

Iona received a boost from the win in their final home game of the season, after dropping a 1-0 heartbreaker two days prior.  The squad will finish it's run on the road, beginning with an Oct. 26 matchup at Marist.