NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's soccer team stunned No. 25 Monmouth 3-1 in non-conference action at Mazzella Field. After trailing 1-0 early in the contest, the Gaels (2-6) scored three unanswered goals to defeat the nationally ranked Hawks (5-2-1).

Monmouth scored first in the game in the 17th minute. After sophomore GK Borja Barbero beat a Hawk player to a 50/50 ball right at the penalty box line, he was whistled for a hand ball giving Momouth a free kick just outside the line. On the kick, the Hawks' Francois Navarro beat Iona's eight-man wall and Barbero to record his team-leading third goal of the season at 16:04.

Iona knotted the score at 1-1 in the 33rd minute after a nifty give-and-go play between junior F Samuel Adjei and senior F Ansger Otto. Otto fed Adjei just outside the six-yard box and the junior found pay dirt for the first time this season beating Monmouth keeper Alex Blackburn low on the net at 32:07.

Less than 90 seconds later, Otto gave Iona the lead for good on a great pass from senior MF Alvaro Torrecilla. Torrecilla played the ball just outside the penalty area. Otto beat Blackburn to the ball and chipped a shot over the keeper's head for his second tally of the year. Junior D Michael Hodgen picked up the second assist for starting the play in the backfield.

The Gaels would continue pressure on the Hawks throughout the remainder of the frame with two more tries on goal and had a 7-5 shot advantage at the break.

In the 57th minute senior F Douglas Stephens scored on a similar play to Otto's tally. It was Torrecilla again who played the ball in to his teammate. Stephens chipped one over Blackburn for his first goal of the year. Otto earned his second point of the game with an assist after finding Torrecilla prior to the goal at 56:59.

With the two goal cushion, Iona played strong defensively and withstood a strong Monmouth charge. The Hawks posted nine of their 12 second half shots after the third Gael goal.

Following an Iona foul in the 63rd minute, Monmouth MF Ryan Clark played the ball in to D Edney Derrick behind the defense. Derrick got his head on it, but the shot went directly into the hands of Barbero for the save.

The Hawks had two chances in the 79th minute. Zach Zurita's shot was blocked and deflected to Andres Penfold. Penfold attempt went left of Barbero towards the goal but was saved by an Iona defender to keep the visitors off the board once again.

Monmouth's final opportunity came in the 83rd minute. Barbero was whistled for a yellow card setting up an indirect kick on the penalty box line. Clark's blast was blocked by the Iona wall to keep the score its final margin, 3-1.

Barbero had seven saves while his counterpart Blackburn posted five. Monmouth out shot Iona 17-14 with the assistance of a 12-7 second half advantage.