NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College men’s soccer team dropped its season-opener Friday evening, falling No. 16 Connecticut, 3-1. Iona’s offensive prowess showed promise, but the Huskies bellied the blows and rose to show why they received two first place votes in the 2016 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
UConn got on the board in the opening minute with a goal from sophomore Abdou Mbacke. The score, which came just 57 seconds in, came via an assist by junior Cheikh Stephane Coly. The quick strike for the home team pushed the Gaels against the wall early, but Iona was able to respond in timely and emphatic fashion.
Sophomore Daniel Huertas picked up where he left off last season by scoring the Maroon & Gold’s first goal of the season. With just 3:02 passed by, junior Matias Correa set up the reigning Co-MAAC Rookie of the Year and MAAC First Team performer to tie the score up at one.
The score remained knotted at one until the latter seconds of the first half; UConn junior Alex Sanchez scored with just 11 seconds remaining in the opening period to allow the Huskies to enter the locker room with a 2-1 lead. Iona was outshot in the first half 6-3, and sophomore Kellar Sirstins made one save in net to keep the deficit at just one.
Huertas came close to tying the game with a shot on goal at the start of the second half. Redshirt junior Scott Levene was forced to make one of his four saves on the night. The Maroon & Gold attack would be stifled following a shot of goal by junior Marcos Nunez in the 59th minute. From then on, the Huskies did not allow another shot on net.
The Huskies added a crucial insurance goal with ten minutes remaining when sophomore defensemen Nkosi Burgess scored his first goal of the season to ensure UConn a win in its season opener.
Huertas and the Nunez were the only Gaels to register shots, all on net. Huertas’s goal was the tenth of his Iona career, giving him 26 total points. Correa’s assist was the first of his collegiate career.
Iona’s next game is at home at Mazzella Field on Tuesday (Aug. 30) vs. Sacred Heart. Kick off between the Gaels and Pioneers is set for 3:00 pm.
