FAIRFIELD, CT - The top seeded Iona College men's soccer team was upset in the semifinals of the MAAC Championship with a defeat by fourth seeded Niagara in a 1-1 double overtime tie at Fairfield's Lessing Field.  The game was decided by a 3-0 penalty kick shootout in favor of the Purple Eagles (7-9-3).

Enduring wet conditions, the Gaels (14-2-3) came out confidently in the first half.  They outshot Niagara 10-5 in the first period and pulled out to a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute as senior MF Fernando Liserra scored his fifth goal of the year.  Following a shot off the foot of junior MF Mario Rios that was saved, Liserra put the rebound into the top of the net.

Iona held on to the one-goal advantage well into the second half, limiting the Purple Eagles to just three shots on goal in the contest.  Niagara knotted the score in the 78th minute when Bryan DaCruz netted a header into the top of the net off a corner kick by Carl Haworth to send the game into overtime.

Both squads totaled four shots over the two overtime periods, but the lack of a deciding goal led to a shootout situation.  Niagara goalkeeper John Fiutowski denied seniors Julian Grajales, Liserra, and Aleksander Haxhari on their penalty kick attempts while all three Purple Eagles managed to score on Gael goalie Nils Binstock to advance to Sunday's final.  Binstock finished the night with two saves.

Iona still has a chance to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.  The bracket announcement will be made on ESPNEWS on Monday, November 16 between 5:30 and 6:00 pm.