NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – It was a close contest Saturday afternoon at Mazzella Field, but the Long Island University men's soccer team fell 3-2 to Iona College in non-conference action.
 
Senior Kyle Parish scored his first goal of the season and also added an assist while freshman Papa Ndoye also put one in the back of the net for the Sharks. Both were dangerous all match long, as they helped LIU reach a double-figure shot total for the third-straight match. Ndoye had seven shots and two shots on goal while Parish had three shots along with two on goal.
 
Graduate student Stefan Faistenauer had one shot and freshman Ryan Grande finished with one shot and in goal, senior Matias Pesallaccia finished with seven saves.
 
Grande would send a shot wide in the seventh minute then Pesallaccia would make a save in the 15^th.  In the 21^st minute, Ndoye danced around the defense and forced two diving attempts by Iona's goalkeeper and ended the spin-cycle with a grounded shot past a diving defender for the Sharks' first goal of the match. Parish was credited with the assist.
 
In the 32^nd minute Parish had a shot on goal but the Gaels would make it a 1-1 match in the 41^st minute, knotting the score heading into halftime.
 
Faistenauer almost have the Sharks the advantage in the 45^th minute, but his shot missed wide. Pesallaccia was able to make saves in the 51^st and 57^th minutes, but Iona was able to take a 2-1 advantage in the 61^st minute.
 
Ndoye missed a shot wide in the 68^th minute but Iona extended its lead in the 81^st minute on a penalty kick. Parish scored LIU's second goal of the match in the 85^th minute on a rocket from over 25 yards out on the right side into the upper right corner.
 
He would almost score again and level the score in the 88^th minute, but his shot missed wide and the match would end with a 3-2 final score.
 
Up Next
LIU will take on Columbia University (1-2-2) on Monday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.