FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the fourth time in as many games, the Fairfield University men's soccer team earned a win on its home pitch as the Stags scored a pair of second-half goals to post a 2-0 win over Iona College.

The victory allowed Fairfield to continue its ascent in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings, picking up three points against a team with which it was tied coming into tonight. The Stags moved into a third-place tie in the standings, an important placement since the top four teams receive a home game in the conference tournament in November.

While that event is still three weeks away, the Stags are doing all they can to make a run at the right time of the year. The team is unbeaten over its last three games (2-0-1) against MAAC opponents and raised its record to 3-2-1 going into next week's game at Rider University.

"Tonight's result was really a six-pointer because we gain three points and potentially take three points away from Iona," Coach Rees said. "We also gained a tie breaker as well so it was an important result for us."

Part of the Stags emergence over the last few weeks has been the offensive play of freshman Rasmus Sorensen Rejnhold who picked up his third goal in the last two matches and his fifth overall tonight. Defensively, goalkeeper William Marment has come into his own over the last five matches as he earned a shutout tonight after losing a clean sheet on an own goal in last Wednesday's win over Manhattan. And once again, Jonathan Puzzo posed a defensive challenge for the Iona offense as the senior earned his second straight start.

"We had another good performance defensively," Coach Rees said. "Will is growing into his role and showed his mettle with a key double save (in the second half). Jonathan Puzzo is doing a job for us in there which has been critical."

The two teams played through a scoreless first half although each team had moments inside their respective box during the 45 minutes. Iona found its way to nine shots with five ofthose finding their target. Marment was equal to the task and turned away those chance. The Stags were able to set up seven shots in the half with Iona goalkeeper Juan Alfaro Monge making a pair of saves.

Fairfield opened the second half with more urgency and immediately pushed forward to challenge the Gaels defense. In the 48^th minute, the Stags found their way on the scoreboard when Santiago Gonzalez sent a shot past the Iona goalkeeper after a fine pass from Thomas Drillien set up the scoring chance.  Just a few minutes later, Daniel Anusic picked up his first point of the season when he sent a cross from the left side of the box to Sorensen Rejnhold who was stationed on the right of the box. The freshman drove the ball into the upper corner of the goal to double the advantage to two goals.

Iona did what it could to add pressure on the Fairfield defense through most of the second half but the Stags back line would have none of it. The back line combined with Marment to keep the Gaels from mounting any sustained attack, only able to create an occasional opportunity.

Fairfield won the game in front of an enthusiastic crowd that lifted the Stags spirits throughout the night. Coach Rees was quick to point to their impact in an important match like tonight.

"The local support and the alumni coming back was such an important of tonight's win," Coach Rees said. "This kind of support is what it is really all about, the school spirit was tremendous. I am pleased that the team gets to experience something like this because they have been working their socks off."

Fairfield travels to Rider University for its next match, a Wednesday night match that starts at 7 pm, before coming back to Lessing Field for a key intrastate match with Quinnipiac University on October 27.