IONA DEFEATS PACE IN WESTCHESTER BATTLE

PLEASANTVILLE, NY - The Gaels of Iona College won the Battle of Westchester County, defeating the Setters of Pace University 34-3 in a non-conference football game this afternoon. The Setters drop to 1-9 overall, while the Gaels improve to 7-2.

Iona got on the board first as Caesar Sanchez (Bronx, NY/JFK) scored on a one-yard touchdown run at the 5:15 mark of the opening quarter to give the Gaels an early 7-0 lead. The Gaels would extend their lead in the second as Nick Rossetti (Parker, CO/Ponderosa) connected with Tim Mastrino (Elmhurst, IL/Immaculate Conception) on a 23-yard touchdown strike to take a 13-0 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Rudy Arcara (Harrison, NY/Harrison) capped a six-play, 56-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown score to put Iona up 20-0 with 5:41 left in the third. On the Gaels' first possession of the final quarter, Dustin Croick (Agoura Hills, CA/Agoura) tossed an eight-yard touchdown to Craig Sutera (West Paterson, NJ/Passaic Valley) for a 27-0 Iona lead with 14:48 left in the game.

The Setters would snap their three-game scoreless streak as Josh Trumper (Pine Grove, NJ/Toms River South) (Pine Grove, NJ/Toms River South) nailed a 39-yard field goal with 8:29 remaining in the game to cut the Iona lead to 27-3. Croick tossed his second touchdown via the air as he hit DeMarcus White (Laurel, MD/Hudson Valley CC) on a 23-yard pass play to wrap up the scoring on the day as Iona took the victory 34-3.

For the Setters, Kerim Tulun (Woodbury, NY/Syosset) (Woodbury, NY/Syosset) rushed for 21 yards on nine carries. Quarterback Adam Headley (Shelton, CT/Shelton) (Shelton, CT/Stony Brook) played the entire game completing 12-of 32 passes for 160 yards and two interceptions. Richard Pinck (Hamburg, NJ/Vernon) (Hamburg, NJ/Vernon) hauled in five receptions for 73 yards, while Matt Cooney (East Rockaway, NY/East Rockaway) (East Rockaway, NJ/East Rockaway) caught three passes for 47 yards. 

The Setter defense was led by Joe Streany (Croton, NY/Croton) who continued his march towards the school single season tackle record, tallying 16 (eight solo) on the day, including 1.5 for losses of two yards. Streany has 136 for the season, putting him six away from tying the school single-season record. Ernst Turnier (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) totaled 15 tackles and also had a pair of interceptions for 25 return yards. Jonfrey Sanchez (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) totaled 10 tackles, while Jon Jones (Dover, NH/Bridgeton Academy) posted eight. Lee Robinson (New Milford, CT/New Milford) (New Milford, CT/New Milford) added seven tackles, including 3.5 for losses of 16 yards, and a quarterback sack.

For the Gaels, Sutera totaled 49 yards on the ground on nine carries, while Dane Samuels (New City, NY/Clarkstown North) rushed for 25 yards on 12 carries. Rossetti completed 15-of-23 passes for 158 yards, tossing a touchdown and also a pair of interceptions. Croick finished the day with 187 yards on 11-for-17 passing and a TD score. White caught seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, while Mastrino recorded six receptions for 110 and a score.

The Setters return to action when they host Assumption College in a Northeast-10 Conference game on Saturday, November 10 for 12:00 p.m. kickoff for Senior Day and the Setters 2007 season finale. The Gaels will host the Red Foxes of Marist College next Saturday.