NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University men's soccer team played to a scoreless draw with Siena on Wednesday afternoon at Mazzella Field. The Gaels outshot the Saints, 13-8 but neither side was able to find the back of the net to walk away with a point each in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Fernando Alves Schmelz tallied four saves for the fourth time this season and logged his first shutout of the year in goal for the Maroon & Gold. Sophomore Alvardo Maneiro totaled a game-high six shots.

GAME SUMMARY

Siena put the pressure on early after receiving the opening kick-off. The Saints offense tested Schmelz early, launching three shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of action that were all denied.
 
Iona looked to strike in the tail end of the first half, totaling five shots in the final 25 minutes to pair with two corner kicks but were unable to break the Saints defense as all five attempts missed off target.
 
Both teams were level in the restart as each side attempted two shots in the opening 15 minutes of second half play.
 
The Gaels had the best look of the contest in the 71^st minute as heads up defense made a clearance on a Siena rush inside the attacking third. Maneiro tracked the ball to midfield and made a move past the Saints defender for the breakaway attempt. He dribbled into the Siena end and fired a left footed shot from 16-yards out, but Siena goalkeeper Bennet Glinder was there to make the quick save.
 
Maneiro once again had a look on goal in the 77^th minute, curling through traffic to the left-hand side for low bullet towards the left post from 24-yards out but Glinder made the diving stop to hold the score. Iona fired its last shot attempt in the 86^th minute as rookie Andres Becerra looked to boot in a laser from 20-yards away that sailed just over the crossbar.
 
Siena made the final rush of the contest in the final minute, placing a well-timed header to the dead center of the box with 29 seconds to go. Schmelz tracked it all the way and made his final save of the day to preserve the tie game.

TEAM STATS

• Iona outshot its opponent for the fifth straight game with a 13-8 margin. Both teams tied for shots on goal with four each. It is the second time this season the Gaels have tied their opponent for shots on goal, the first coming on Sept. 2 versus Monmouth.
• The Saints held a slight 5-4 lead on corner kicks for the game.
• 19 fouls were called between the two teams and zero cards for either team, a first in a game for Iona this season.

UP NEXT

The Gaels hit the road on Saturday, October 18 for a 1 p.m. tilt from Ben Cohen Field to take on Rider.