Fairfield, Conn.— The Iona University men's soccer team had its seven-game winning streak come to an end Saturday evening, falling to Fairfield, 1-0 at Lessing Field. The loss was the first for the Gaels in well over a month, as the team moves to 8-3 overall and sit tied atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings with a 6-1 record.

THE RUNDOWN

Both teams were evenly matched to begin the match, registering six shots apiece and one shot on target through 38 minutes of action. Fairfield broke the standstill in the 40th minute on a long cross from Daniel Raimondo on the right side to find Alex Marin for the back-post goal.

Iona looked for the equalizer shortly after as graduate student Camil Azzam Ruiz had his shot from 8 yards out punched away by James Anderson. There to collect his rebound, he fired a shot that clanged off the cross bar in the 41st minute. Fairfield held on to the lead into the break.

Out of the intermission, Iona had a couple chances in the first five minutes including a shot by senior Elird Mero that clanged off the right post in the 49th minute. Iona looked for the equalizer over the remaining 29 minutes of action, attempting four shots by graduate student Matias Morales, juniors Thiago Cagna and Ricardo Senen Pinillos and sophomore Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez that missed off target to allow Fairfield to take the 1-0 home win.

Azzam Ruiz led the Gaels with seven shots on the night and three shots on goal. Senior Aly Camara recorded three shots and Mero along with Cagna registered two shots for Iona.

GOALIE/TEAM STATS

Alfaro Monge made two saves for the Maroon & Gold. Anderson and Victor Nikolov recorded two saves each in net for Fairfield. The Gaels out shot the Stags 17-11, with a 7-4 edge on shots in the second half but only had a 4-3 advantage for shots on goal.

AROUND THE MAAC

Siena (6-1) won its fifth straight contest with a 2-0 victory at Mount St. Mary's (2-3-2). Marist (4-2-2) defeated Canisius (0-5-3), 3-1 in Poughkeepsie. Rider (3-2-2) earned a 1-0 road win at Niagara (2-3-2). Quinnipiac (0-3-4) and Saint Peter's (1-3-3) both earned a point with a 2-2 draw in Hamden. 

UP NEXT

The Gaels have big-time matchup on Wednesday (October 25) as Siena comes to New Rochelle. The two teams at the top of the MAAC Men's Soccer standings square off at 1:00 p.m. at Mazzella Field.