NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men’s soccer team dropped its fifth straight game as it fell to Harvard on Saturday afternoon, 2-1.  The Crimson scored twice in the final 10 minutes to steal a victory away from the Gaels in their final non-conference game of the season.

Sophomore Daniel Huertas put the Gaels up 1-0 early in the first half with his third goal of the season.  Senior Teddy Forson fed a long pass forward over the Harvard backline, leading to a chip-in scoring chance that the leading Maroon & Gold goal-scorer netted.

Iona played solid defense for the rest of the first half to keep Harvard off the board.  Crimson had just three shots in the first half despite accumulating eight corner kick chances.

The backline of the Gaels defense held strong for the majority of the game, but the Crimson began to poke holes in the wall in the second half.  Harvard outshot Iona 10-3 in the second half, and in the 81^st minute, the relentless battering broke through.  Harvard’s senior Alex Leondis scored his first goal of the season that tied the score.  Senior Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu earned the assist on the game-tying score by deflecting a cross into the box that found the foot of Leondis.

With four minutes remaining in the game, junior Christian Sady gave Harvard its game-winning goal.  Senior Jake Freeman slid a grounded pass to Sady, who then slipped it past sophomore Kellar Sirstins near post.

Iona had two chances to tie the game late.  Sophomore Killian Colombie had a phenomenal header chance in the 89^th minute, and the team had a corner kick opportunity turned away as time expired.

Sirstins recorded four saves for Iona. Junior Marcos Nunez came into the game in the second half and tallied one shot. Senior Oscar Gonzalez had one shot on goal.

Harvard’s Freeman had three shots, one shot on goalin addition to his assist. Goalie junior Kyle Parks had three saves.  Harvard outshot the Gaels 13-4.  The Crimson had 13 corner kick chances.

Iona will begin Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play when they face Saint Peter’s at home on Tuesday, Sept. 27.