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Iona University Athletics

MSOC Team Huddle 2024 Season Opener
Meg Kelly
2
Iona ION (0-0-1, 0-0-0)
2
Boston College BC (0-0-1, 0-0-0)
Iona ION
(0-0-1, 0-0-0)
2
Final
2
Boston College BC
(0-0-1, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Iona ION 0 2 2
Boston College BC 2 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Brian Duane / Assistant AD / Athletic Communications

Iona MSOC Uses Second Half Rally to Earn 2-2 Draw at Boston College

NEWTON, MA— The Iona University Men's soccer team utilized a second half comeback on to earn a 2-2 tie at Boston College on Thursday evening at Newton Soccer Complex. The Eagles took a two-goal lead into halftime before the Gaels answered with second half goals from juniors Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez and Dino Feratovic to force the draw in the 2024 season opener.
 
The goal in the 61st minute by Gonzalez Fernandez was the fourth of his Iona career. Feratovic registered his first career goal with a header in the 67th minute off the assist from sophomore Jad Benjelloun to tie the game up. It is the third consecutive season opener for the Maroon & Gold against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent after meeting nationally ranked Virginia in 2023 and Syaracuse in 2022.

GAME SUMMARY

The Eagles controlled the pace early, scoring the first goal in the third minute of play on a right-footed shot from Ask Ekeland went into the left upper 90 from 25-yards out for the 1-0 lead.

Iona looked to get going offensively in the 17th minute as sophomore Francesco Borla fired in the first shot on goal from the right side that was stopped by Brennan Klein. Iona fired three more shots, two in the 31st and one in the 33rd minute that missed off target.
 
Boston College utilized another high left strike from Ekeland, this time from 18-yards out that found the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage. Iona tried to get settled in on set plays in the opening half with five corner kick attempts in the period.
 
Iona drew the opening kick to start the second half and pushed the tempo inside the Eagles zone with three shot attempts in the first 13 minutes of the period. The Gaels drew the first corner attempt of the half in the 61st minute. Gonzalez Fernandez sent the cross into the box off the corner kick and had the clear attempt bounce right back to him. He rifled a shot from 30-yards out through traffic to the bottom left corner of the goal to cut the deficit to one.
 
The Gaels continued to mount pressure from there earning another corner kick in the 67th minute. Benjelloun set up to take the kick from the left corner. After a stoppage for an injury, the sophomore midfielder lifted the pass into the box finding Feratovic on the well-timed header off the right post to tie the game up at 2-2. The assist from Benjelloun was the third of his career.
 
Boston College looked to take the lead in the 79th minute as back-to-back shot attempts on an empty net were denied by heads up defense graduate student Elird Mero. Freshman goalkeeper Fernando Schmelz made a key stop in the 82nd minute for the final attempt by the Eagles. Iona had the ball as the clock ticked down in the final minute looking for the game winner, but the shot attempt went wide left as both teams walked away with the draw.

TEAM STATS

  • Boston College held a slight 14-13 advantage on shot attempts and a 6-5 margin with shots on goal. Iona outshot the home team 9-8 in the second half.
  • The Gaels recorded four saves while the Eagles registered three saves on the night.
  • Iona had a 9-6 lead on corner kicks for the opener including a 5-2 first half advantage on corners.

UP NEXT

The Gaels continue the six-game road swing to start the season with a trip to Loyola Maryland on Thursday, August 29 for a 7:00 p.m. contest at Ridley Athletic Complex.
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