NEW YORK — It took a 12th-minute wonder strike from Iona's Alessio Hernandez to crack the Columbia defense and it turned out to be the match's only tally as the Lions fell to the Gaels, 1-0, Saturday night at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.

"I think we did have a hard time getting on the ball in the first half, but I think at the same time when you look at those opportunities we had, there were certainly plenty enough to score," Columbia head coach Kevin Anderson stated. "Three of them were on-one-one with the goalkeeper and one hit the crossbar. I think we are creating enough opportunities but we just aren't converting them. We just need to keep the repetition, keep creating chances and keep gaining experience.

"We're trying to stay positive. It's not easy, but for me there has only been one game so far where I thought the performance wasn't good enough. It's a cruel game."

Hernandez's goal came after Columbia (1-4-2) had two one-on-one chances with just the Iona (3-3-1) keeper to beat in the opening minutes. First-year Ryan Kipness had the first attempt just over two minutes in after he stole the ball from an Iona center back, but his touch toward goal was too heavy and allowed Alfaro Monge to make the stop. Sebastian Gunbeyi had nearly an identical opportunity a minute later that generated the same result.
 
The game's goal-scoring shot came against the run of play from outside 25 yards, and there was nothing junior goalkeeper Michael Collodi could do to stop it. The Columbia goalie did ultimately wind up with seven saves on the evening.
 
Columbia took nine shots on the night and had its chances. One of the closer looks of the first half never actually resulted in a shot, as Adrien Wheaton-Schopp played a ball in from the far side for Will DeNight in the box, but the connection wasn't there and the ball bounced harmlessly toward the end line.
 
The Lions began to press into the second half and were cruelly denied by the crossbar in the 67th minute. Ryan Kipness gained possession on the far side of the box and slid a ball across that deflected off an Iona defender and was headed straight for the goal. The deflection wound up hitting the underside of the crossbar but took a fortuitous bounce for Iona away from goal and was cleared away. As the match entered the final 20 minutes, Columbia was awarded a free kick from just a few yards outside the penalty area. Senior Sebastian Gunbeyi lined it up and took a direct shot at goal. Gubeyi's left-footed curler swung around the wall and was destined for the upper-left corner, but Iona keeper Juan Alfaro Monge made a terrific leaping save to deny yet another Columbia opportunity. Entering the final stages, Columbia kept pressing higher and Iona had a few attempts on the counter. Collodi did well to keep it a one-goal affair with a few diving saves, including one in the 79th minute off the foot of Lenworth Lopez.
 
The Lions had a few more looks in the remaining minutes that were not meant to be. Andrew Stevens' desperation attempt from inside the six on a ball bouncing away from him was the last of them, which went high of the crossbar.
 
Columbia hopes for better luck to start Ivy League competition, which begins next Saturday on its home turf against Brown. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET.

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