STONY BROOK, NY – The Iona College men’s soccer program dropped its first of two straight matches against America East Conference opponents on Wednesday evening.  The Stony Brook Seawolves defeated the Maroon & Gold 3-2 despite sophomore Aristotle Seferlis and junior Oscar Gonzalez each recording their first goals of the season.

Stony Brook outshot the Gaels 14-11 in the match, making the most if its 11 scoring chances in the second half.  Seven of Iona’s shots were on goal.

Seawolves goaltender Tom McMahon stuffed Iona’s first scoring chance in the ninth minute.  Sophomore Samuel Saenz took a pass from fellow second year player Daniel Ocana on the left side and fired a rising shot towards the right corner that was deflected high.  Moments later, sophomore Killian Colombie took a shot from 10 yards out that was blocked by the defense.

Following an errant Seawolves shot in the 11^th minute, neither team tested the goaltender until the 37^th minute.  Junior Marcos Nunez threaded a through ball to Colombie, but his attempt on a low corner score was denied.  Gonzalez then attempted a one-timer off the rebound that went wide right.

Stony Brook had the final offensive flurry of the opening half.  Senior Eduardo Valle fired a shot that was blocked by the Gaels backline.  Soon after the Seawolves had a well-positioned free kick that was headed out of danger senior Marley McLain.

Iona outshot Stony Brook in the first half, 5-3.

The Seawolves early aggression in the second half leant itself to a pair of corner chances.  In the 52^nd minute, freshman Stephen Turnbull turned one of those opportunities into a score, giving Stony Brook a 1-0 lead.  Turnbull took a sharp corner from senior Serge Gamwanya and headed it inside the right post past junior Jordan Scarlett and sophomore goalie Kellar Sirstins.

Nunez fired his second shot of the game in the 59^th minute, forcing McMahon to make a straight on save.  Catching the Iona defense in the attacking position, the Seawolves counter attacked and nearly added their second score.  Sirstins made his finest save of the game when junior Danny Espinoza rocketed a dangerous shot from just six yards away.

Stony Brook tallied its second score in the 64^th minute.  Junior Thibault Duval netted the goal via helpers from freshman Jarred Dass and Gamwanya.

Appearing in only his second game and coming off the bench, Seferlis provided an immediate spark for the Gaels offense.  He was able to take a pass from McLain and convert it into Iona’s first score in the 73^rd minute.

The Seawolves did not allow the Maroon & Gold momentum to last long.  Just 93 seconds after the deficit was cut to one, Valle put Iona back down by two with his second score of the season.  He was assisted by Dass.

In the 81^st minute, Iona got back within one when co-captain Gonzalez buried a penalty kick that was earned by Scarlett.  The senior defenseman charged into the 18-yard box and drew a foul in the midst of a shot attempt to give Gonzalez the chance at the dot.

With 5:25 remaining, the Gaels had a chance to tie it when sophomore Daniel Huertas fed a dangerous feed into the box.  McMahon was able to pounce on it after the loose ball after it ricocheted off various bodies.

Iona faces its second consecutive America East opponent on Saturday, Sept. 17 when the Hartford Hawks came to Mazzella Field for an afternoon kickoff.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13