SMITHFIELD, RI — The Iona University men's soccer team fell on the road at Bryant on Tuesday night, 3-1. Junior Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez recorded the lone Iona goal in the 87^th minute on the penalty kick.
 
Gonzalez Fernandez picked up his third goal of the season, a new single-season career high and led the team with two shot attempts against the Bulldogs. Freshman Fernando Schmelz made a career-high three saves in goal. Freshman Alvaro Maneiro also fired two shot attempts for the Maroon & Gold.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels looked to pressure early in the contest and get to work on the set plays off the corner, drawing three corner kicks in the opening nine minutes of play. The Bulldogs defense knocked down the three attempts from the Gaels. Iona had a look from 18-yards out in the 14th minute as senior Thiago Cagna rifled a shot from dead center but was blocked by a Bryant defender.
 
The Bulldogs mounted an attack in the 17^th minute with a cross into the box right in front of the goal for a point-blank header, Schmelz was there for the knockdown save. Bryant broke open the scoring in the 38^th minute with a shot from 15-yards out on the left side by Jorge Rodriguez got redirected past the diving Schmelz and into the back of the net for the 1-0 Bryant lead.
 
In a tightly contested first half, the Bulldogs held a 6-3 lead on shots. Two of Iona's shot attempts were blocked by the Bryant defense and a rebound shot from freshman Emilio Rossi sailed just left of the goal.
 
Out of the intermission, Bryant looked to add to its tally in the 52^nd minute with another scoring chance with an open look on goal from eight yards out but Schmelz punched away the shot attempt.
 
Turnover by Bryant in the 65^th minute just past midfield set up a breakaway opportunity for the Gaels. Senior Ricardo Senen Pinillos got the loose ball and played a long pass to Maneiro down the right side. The rookie fired a sliding shot to the near post but Bryant goalkeeper Antreas Hadjigavriel made a diving stop on it and his defense backed him up by saving the rebound from crossing the goal line.
 
Bryant had another shot in the 74^th minute get knocked down by Schmelz. The ball bounced back outside the box to the Bulldogs looking to set up another scoring chance. A trip just inside the box a few seconds later drew a penalty kick call from the referee. Kerman Sukia buried the penalty kick to put the home team up 2-0.
 
Momentum carried for the home team as the game wore on as a high bouncing pass in the 85^th minute allowed Marc Pitarch Bayot to split past the Gaels back line. He found Cristian Guirado for the open look as he fired the shot past a charging Schmelz for the 3-0 advantage.
 
Iona continued to battle in the Bulldogs zone, sending a cross into the box in the 87^th minute. A hand ball by a Bryant defender allowed the Gaels a penalty kick chance. Gonzalez Fernandez stepped up and fired the penalty kick to the lower left corner of the goal past the diving reach of Hadjigavriel to bring the final score to 3-1.

TEAM STATS

• Bryant held a 13-8 advantage on shots for the game and took six shots on goal. The Gaels were held to a season low two shots on goal.
• Iona made three saves, tying its season high as Schmelz made a career high in saves. Bryant's lone save was credited as a team save by the defense.
• The two teams were nearly even on corner kicks, tying with four apiece in the opening half and Bryant holding a 3-2 on corners in the second half. 

UP NEXT

The Gaels begin the home portion of its 2024 schedule on Saturday, September 14, hosting Binghamton for a 1:00 p.m. contest at Mazzella Field.