NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University men's soccer team played Fairfield to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon in the second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matchup of the season for both teams. The Stags tallied the opening goal at Mazzella Field in the 22nd minute before the Gaels answered three minutes later with the first career goal by rookie Bautista Rossi.
 
Rossi picked up his first collegiate goal in the 26^th minute off the assists from classmate Alvaro Maneiro and graduate student Elird Mero. It was the first career assist for Maneiro and the third assist of the season for Mero.

GAME SUMMARY

The start of the match was a back-and-forth duel with both sides trying to strike first. It was not until the 22nd minute when Fairfield scored the opening tally as Alex Martin slotted the ball into the left corner just under the reach of rookie Fernando Alves Schmelz.

Iona looked to answer shortly thereafter as Mero enter the Fairfield zone and found Maneiro with a centering pass out front to Maneiro. He took one dribble and found Rossi with a lead pass down the left side. Rossi turned and fired the ball past the outstretch Stags goalkeeper to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
The Gaels looked to continue the momentum in the final 15 minutes of the first half, firing three more shots on goal by Viktor Nikolov was there to make the stop. Iona ended the half with four shots on goal, while limiting to Fairfield to two shots on goal.

Second half opened with the same high intensity with both teams generating chances early. In the 55th minute, the Gaels had a great opportunity off a corner, as senior Tim Timchenko fired in a shot on goal, but Nikolov was able to get a hand on it for the save.

The game got chippy from there as both teams were dealt cards on hard challenges to the attacking side.
 
Iona looked to get the go-ahead strike with two corner kicks late in the contest. The Gaels best chance came on a header by junior Dino Feratovic in the 86th minute off the cross from Maneiro that went on goal through traffic and was saved by the Stags defense to keep the game knotted at 1-1. Both teams picked up a point to remain unbeaten in league play.

TEAM STATS

• Iona held a 15-6 shot advantage for the game with a huge 9-2 advantage for shots on goal.
• The Gaels attempted 7 corners and held Fairfield to 0.
• Iona and Schmelz only had to make 1 save, while the Stags recorded 9 saves.

UP NEXT

The Gaels have a small rest before heading up to Lewiston, NY to take on Niagara on Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 PM at Niagara Field.