POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Senior midfielder Skylar Conway and junior forward Stefan Copetti scored first-half goals to extend their scoring streaks, but Iona bested Marist 3-2 on Wednesday evening at Tenney Stadium.
 
The Red Foxes sustain their first loss in conference play, falling to 2-1 along with a 5-5-1 record. The Gaels landed their first conference victory tonight, improving to 1-1-1 and a 4-4-2 overall mark.
 
Marist held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, only for Iona to level the score three and 13 minutes later, respectively. Camil Azzam Ruiz's strike off a free kick in the 79th minute sealed the victory for the visitors.
 
Conway led all student-athletes with six shots, tallying a goal and an assist on the evening. Azzam Ruiz totaled two goals and an assist to his name.
 

first half

• Marist started the game aggressively, logging two shots on goal in just three minutes of play.
• As play shifted to a more back-and-forth style with little penetration deep in the goalie box, it wasn't until Conway showcased some impressive footwork within the box to put Marist up 1-0 after 15 minutes.
• Iona quickly responded, tying the match 1-1 just three minutes later off a corner kick. Azzam Ruiz found Inigo Zaballa Gonzalez for the equalizer.
• After some time, Marist was able to regain some momentum, and in the 25th minute, Conway slipped the ball to Copetti for the second Red Fox goal.
• The next 15 minutes consisted of Marist controlling the ball movement, until a turnover on the defensive end led to a 20-yard blast from Azzam Ruiz to tie the score at 2-2 with seven minutes on halftime.

 

second half

• After a hard foul on Skylar Conway in the 60th minute, junior midfielder Antek Sienkel sent the ball into Iona's box on a free kick, but the Gael defense kept the Red Foxes out of the net.
• Conway, Sienkel, and freshman forward Richard Morel continued to apply pressure to Iona's defense.
• Fifteen minutes into the half, Iona logged the 4th yellow card of the game, including two within five minutes.
• As both teams battled physically, Assam Ruiz broke the scoring silence with his second goal of the night, putting Iona up 3-2 with 11 minutes left to play by cashing in on a 20-yard free kick into the lower-left corner.

 

stats

• Marist outshot Iona 17-12, but the Gaels held a 7-4 edge in shots on target.
• Senior goalkeeper Samuel Ilin made four saves, while Iona netminder Zach Helson had two. Both goaltenders faced 12 shots each on the game.
• Corners favored the Red Foxes 8-3, with seven coming in the second half and five in a span of three minutes late in the match.
• Copetti logged his fifth goal of the season, while Morel added an assist on Conway's strike.
• Six yellow cards were issued, along with 34 fouls.

 

notes

• Copetti extends his goal-scoring streak to four games, and his points streak to seven matches.
• Conway has scored in consecutive games, and registered a season-high with the three points.
• Morel has added helpers in back-to-back matches. He and Conway each have six points in 2021.
• Iona has won three of the last four decisions over Marist.
• The Red Foxes' last two MAAC losses at home have come to the Gaels, with the last instance on November 2nd, 2019.

 

quote from coach

"I'm obviously disappointed with the result. I think we can learn from this and be prepared to react better to what teams throw at us. At the end of the day, I didn't feel the guys got what they deserved out of the game, but we can certainly improve. We will (improve), and look forward to getting back out on Saturday." - Head Coach Matt Viggiano
 

up next

• Marist's next match sends them south to Jersey City, NJ where they face Saint Peter's this Saturday, October 9th at 2 p.m.