NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University men's soccer team fell to Binghamton, 2-1 in the home opener at Mazzella Field. The Gaels took a first half lead courtesy of junior Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez in the 21st minute before the Bearcats mounted a second half charge, recording the game winner on Saturday afternoon with 45 seconds left in the game.
 
Gonzalez Fernandez scored in the second straight contest for the Maroon & Gold and recorded his fourth goal of the season. Seniors Thiago Cagna and Ricardo Senen Pinillos picked up their second assists of the year on the goal in the 21^st minute.

GAME SUMMARY

It was a slow start on Saturday afternoon with both teams jostling for possession early in the contest. Iona mounted early pressure in the Bearcat zone in the 21^st minute as Cagna sent a ball out wide on the left side to Senen Pinillos on a give-and-go pass. Senen Pinillos fired the cross into the box that got deflected right to the charging Gonzalez Fernandez to bury the ball into the back of the next for the 1-0 Iona lead.
 
The Gaels attempted two more shots in the first half as shot by freshman Alvaro Maneiro got blocked by the Binghamton defense in the 22^nd minute and a shot from 25-yards out by Senen Pinillos missed high in the 24^th minute. Iona's defense kept the Binghamton offense from attempting a shot in the first half.
 
Binghamton looked to pick up its intensity out of the halftime break firing a shot on goal just three minutes in that was knocked down by rookie Fernando Schmelz.
 
Both teams traded shot attempts that missed off target from there as the intensity continued to pick up. Iona looked to capitalize on turnover in the Bearcats end in the 65^th minute as Francesco Borla fired a one-timer from 22-yards out right at Dylan McDermott for the save.
 
The Gaels looked to add to their lead in the 72^nd minute with a breakout chance. Sophomore Jad Benjelloun played a strong pass to an open Cagna just outside the box. The senior slipped a lead pass to a wide-open freshman Bautista Rossi. The rookie tried to catch McDermott slipping with a shot from four yards out but the Binghamton netminder made a kick save to hold the Gaels at bay.
 
Binghamton drew a corner kick in the 80^th minute, the Gaels cleared out that attempt, but the ball went right to DT Megliola who rifled a shot in that got blocked. Cailen Thomas was there to one touch the ball over the reach of Schemlz to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
Iona went on the attack from there with two chances to jump back out in front from just outside the penalty box by Cagna and Gonzalez Fernandez missing just wide in the 81^st and 88^th minute.
 
As the game neared the final minute, Binghamton drew a free kick from about midfield and sent the long ball into the Iona end. The pass bounced around eventually to Carlo Cavalar who fired the pass over his head to Thomas to knock down. He sent the pass to a wide-open Luke Yates to bury the 15-yard shot into the top left corner to secure the victory with 45 seconds left in the game.

TEAM STATS

• Iona held a 11-10 shot advantage for the game with a slight 4-3 advantage for shots on goal. Binghamton generated all their shots in the second half.
• Both teams attempted two corner kicks each.
• The Bearcats logged three saves courtesy of McDermott while Iona recorded one save from rookie Fernando Schmelz.

UP NEXT

The Gaels conclude the team's non-conference schedule on Tuesday, September 17 at Mazzella Field against George Washington. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and the matchup will air on ESPN+.