Sept. 6, 2003

Box Score

Dennis Calacione caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Billy Brieden, and defensive back Frank Meade stopped a late Siena drive with an interception with 20 seconds to play as Iona College (1-0, 1-0 MAAC) defeated Siena College (0-1, 0-1 MAAC) in a season-opening contest before 2,840 fans at Christian Brothers Academy Saturday evening.

Iona took a 3-0 lead on their opening drive, as Spencer Callahan capped an eight-play, 30-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal with 8:58 remaining in the first quarter.

The Gaels increased their lead to 10-0 on their next possession, as Iona took over after a Siena punt at its own 26-yard line and went down the field highlighted by a 48-yard scoring strike from Brieden to Calacione.

Siena would find the end zone on its fourth possession, as the Saints turned to the ground with an effective running game led by quarterback Christian Karolus (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull). The signal caller rushed four times for 13 yards, including a 3-yard scoring run, as the Saints rushed seven times in the nine play, 38-yard scoring drive to cut the Iona lead to 10-7 with 7:29 left in the second quarter.

Iona would extend its lead to 16-7 at the half, as Brieden threw his second touchdown pass, a 32-yard scoring strike to Calacione. Calacione caught seven passes for 186 yards on the evening, as the sophomore had more than half of Brieden's 314 passing yards in the game.

Siena began to mount a comeback in the third quarter, as senior linebacker Dan Smacchia (Thornwood, N.Y./Westlake) forced a Gael fumble that was recovered by Brandon Matano (Honolulu, Hawaii/Paramus Catholic (N.J.) and returned 82-yards down the Saint sideline to cut the Gael lead to 16-14. Smacchia, the 2003 MAAC Preseason Defensive Player Of The Year, had 17 tackles to lead all defensive players.

Iona began the fourth quarter with its final scoring drive, a 6-play, 28-yard scoring drive capped by a 27-yard field goal from Callahan that gave the Gaels a 19-14 lead. The Saint defense began to stiffen later in the quarter, stopping the Gaels on its next two possessions before gaining the ball at its own 12-yard line with 2:41 to play.

Karolus began to lead the Saints down the field, and Siena was helped by the Gael defense, as Siena was awarded a first down when Iona was whistled for a pass interference penalty at Siena's 35-yard line. Karolus then drove to the Iona 32-yard line as he completed back to back passes to senior wide receiver Pat McCormack (Rutland, Vt./Mt. St. Joseph). The Saints comeback attempt came to an end on the next play, as Meade picked off a Karolus pass at the Gael 3-yard line with 0:20 to play.

Karolus completed 10 of 17 passes for 134 yards and one interception in the defeat. McCormack led all Siena receivers with six catches for 55 yards.

Siena will return to action next Saturday, when the Saints travel to Stony Brook for a 6 p.m. contest.