The Iona College men’s soccer team is coming off of a 7-11 overall record, including a 5-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record. The Gaels have reached the semi-finals of the MAAC Tournament the last two seasons, but came up short 1-0 in both contests. A 2010 matchup against the Saint Peter’s Peacocks is the last time the Gaels were in the MAAC finals, but were defeated 3-1.

Iona will open up their 2013 season without Ansger Otto, who led the team last year with seven goals and had a team high 18 points. Otto graduated and recently signed his first professional contract with Japanese J- League 2 club Gainare Tottori. Also, the Gaels lost their three captains all to graduation, midfielders Douglas Stephens and Alvaro Torrecilla and defender Robbie Krohmer.

The Maroon & Gold will look to claim their first MAAC Championship in school history behind the play of this year’s captains: seniors midfielder Franklin Castellanos and forward Samuel Adjei and red-shirt senior defender Alexander Abdalla.

Castellanos had a team-high six assists and two goals last season and Adjei had four goals for the Gaels, which was second best. Due to their high quality play, both were named Preseason All-MAAC Team. Castellanos was excited to be named to the Preseason All-MAAC team.

“It feels good, and it’s a boost of motivation to perform well in the MAAC,” Castellanos said.

The Gaels were picked to finish second in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll with a total of 110 points, one point behind MAAC newcomer Monmouth University.

Iona opened up the 2013 campaign on the west coast on August 30, against the University of California Riverside (UC Riverside) Highlanders. In a scoreless first-half, the Highlanders out-shot the Gaels 6-2. UC-Riverside nearly took the lead just over seven minutes into the second half, when redshirt junior Andy Contreras took a shot and hit the crossbar.

About 21 minutes later, the Highlanders took a 1-0 lead on a give-and-go from senior froward Ivan Garcia to freshman midfielder Romario Lomeli, who netted his first collegiate goal past Iona sophomore goalkeeper Julian Petrello.

The Maroon & Gold continued to fight hard to even the score. The equalizer almost came in the 83rd minute when, freshman Alex Ramos took a shot and hit the crossbar. The Highlanders were able to hold off the Gaels to start their year off on the winning end.

Although the team came up on the losing side, Castellanos still was proud of the team’s performance.

“We fought through till the end, and we never gave up,” Castellanos said.

In the Gaels’ second west coast match-up Iona took on the University of California Irvine Anteaters (UC Irvine).

The Gaels opened up the game on the attack, and in the eighth minute Adjei put away his first goal of the year, assisted by Castellanos to give Iona a 1-0 lead. Junior forward Lester Hayes III, evened the match up 1-1 in the 25th minute. Nearly eight minutes later, UC Irvine took the lead with a goal from senior Enrique Cardenas.

UC Irvine went into the half with a 2-1 lead, after a physical first half of play which included four yellow cards (three for Iona and one for UC Irvine).

The physical matchup continued into the second half in the 66th minute when UC Irvine senior Tarek Morad received a yellow card for a foul committed in the box resulting in a penalty kick for Iona.

Castellanos put the ball past UC Irvine junior goalkeeper Michael Breslin from the penalty spot to tie the game up 2-2.

The Gaels battled with ten men after a red card was given in the 74th minute. Iona was able to hold off the Anteaters for the remainder of the game and for 20 extra minutes in overtime to end the game in a 2-2 draw.

Castellanos believes Iona’s trip to California will be beneficial in the long run.

“I think it’s a great experience to play west coast teams especially here in California,” Castellanos said. “You have quality teams and the weather is harsh, but it’s only going to help us.”

Iona will remain on the road as they take on Harvard University Sept. 6. The Gaels’ home-opener is on Sept. 10 against the University at Albany at 3 p.m. at Mazzella Field.