FAIRFIELD, CT - The Iona College men's soccer team defeated Fairfield 2-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Lessing Field. Junior MF Mario Rios put the Gaels on the board with just over a minute remaining in the first half to extend the squad's unbeaten streak to eight games.

An evenly played first half between the two squads saw the first goal on the board in the 44th minute. Both goalkeepers recorded key saves to keep the score even in the match. With 1:02 on the clock, Rios received a through pass from senior MF Fernando Liserra and chipped the ball over Fairfield goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe and found the back of the net just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead going into the intermission.

In the 78th minute Liserra set up classmate F Giovanni Destasio's team leading 10th goal of the season. Liserra got the ball through the defense to Destasio in stride to set up a one-on-one with the Stag keeper. The senior forward tucked the ball into the far corner of the net to put the visitors up by two goals with less than 12 minutes to play.

Both of senior GK Nils Binstock's saves were crucial in keeping the Stags off the board.  He recorded his sixth shutout of the season and 21st of his career.  Each team had eight shot attempts in the Gaels' first win at Lessing Field since the 2003 season.

The Gaels won their sixth straight contest and are unbeaten in their last eight. With a 3-0 record, Iona has matched Loyola for first place in the MAAC after the first two weekends of play. The Gaels open up league play at Mazzella Field next weekend when they host Manhattan on Friday (Oct. 23) and Saint Peter's on Sunday (Oct. 25)