After winning three out of their last four games, the Iona men’s soccer team will look to build on their momentum as they are on the cusp of a playoff birth.

As much as the Gaels’ contending record should be the front page story for most fans, it has been the ways they have won those games that have been the headlining stories. There have been breathtaking freshman goals, adrenaline raising comebacks and clutch performances. It’s not only the win column for the Gaels that is wow-ing people, but also the amazing plays that are leading this team to victory.

Freshman midfielder Jordan Scarlett was one of the heroes in the Gaels’ comeback victory against Fairfield. His jaw dropping goal tied the game up at one and gave the Gaels an opportunity to win. The ball was fired by Scarlett from a long distance as it ricocheted straight up into the air off the crossbar. The ball began an easy decline into the hands of Fairfield’s goalie, Matt Turner, who seemed to be settling under it for the save. However, to everyone’s surprise the goalie missed the catch and the ball bounced off his chest and into the net for a goal.

“In practice I’ve been practicing those shots, trying to get them to dip like Cristiano Ronaldo, and luckily it hit the crossbar. I think it was God who let it go in,” Scarlett said.

The Gaels took that momentum and ran with it as they orchestrated a comeback win in the final minutes of the game led by junior Ignacio Maganto’s winning goal.

“That goal that Jordan scored was a great shot, and a little bit of luck, but you need that in soccer to win,” head coach Fernando Barboto said.

“It’s good that they know they can dig in here, into their tanks and say we can come back from behind, we can equalize and get the lead, see the game out and win. I think today was something that can give players a team belief in themselves to be able to do that,” he said.

The Gaels were not able to win against the Siena Saints, losing 2-0, but returned home to host Marist where they pulled out a 4-1 victory. Everything seemed to be working for the Gaels in this contest, as senior midfielder Franklin Castellanos had a career high five points, scoring one goal and assisting three goals. Senior Samuel Adjei and juniors Maganto and Michael Holzer aided the offensive onslaught. Adjei had a goal and an assist, Maganto had two goals and Holzer had two assists.

Cold winds fell upon Mazzella Field on Oct. 26 as the Niagara Purple Eagles flew into town. This did not stop the Gaels’ winning ways. In an all-out battle to the finish, the Gaels piled up on top of each other in celebration after watching the ball soar into the net off the foot of Maganto for the overtime win. Freshman Oscar Gonzalez assisted Maganto, who scored his ninth goal of the season.

“Nine goals this season feels good personally, but I think the more important thing is the win, and the wins we are getting,” Maganto said.

“If I score that is good for me and I am happy with that, but I think the more important thing is to keep winning. I don’t care who is scoring the goals,” he said.

The Maroon & Gold are building up their momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season and into the postseason.

“I think going into the playoffs as an underdog is much better,” senior Tommy Martin said. “We have gone into the playoffs undefeated, and I feel like that’s the team everyone is gunning for; you have a target on your back. The way we are heating up now, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”

The men’s soccer team is 7-6-1 overall and 4-2-1 in MAAC play as they move on to face St. Peter’s and Canisius on the road.

They will be at home against the Manhattan Jaspers, Nov. 6 to wrap up the regular season.