FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Niagara men's soccer team will play for its first-ever MAAC Championship on Sunday after it defeated top-seeded Iona in penalty kicks, 1-1 a.e.t (3-0 penalty kicks) on Friday night from Lessing Field in Fairfield, Conn. Senior keeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) saved all three penalties taken by the Gaels.

Niagara (7-9-3) will play for its first ever MAAC Championship and a chance to earn its first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament as the league's champion on Sunday at noon on ESPNU against second-seeded Loyola after ousting the top-seeded Iona Gaels (14-2-3) on penalty kicks.

“I’m really proud of the character our team showed tonight,” head coach Dermot McGrane said. “To play a game with two  men down and to persevere is incredible.”

The match was played in sloppy conditions and witnessed seven yellow cards and three red cards. The Purple Eagles had to  chase the game after allowing a goal in the 20th minute. Niagara's task became tougher when attacking midfielder Levi Tesch (Wolcott, N.Y.) was ejected from the match when he received a direct red card in the 56th minute.

NU outshot Iona 20-17 in the match and 11-3 in the second half. One of those shots nearly tied the match. In the 76th minute, Stephen Kauble (Canal Wincheter, Ohio) was sent on a breakaway, but sliced his shot wide of the goal. A minute later, the Purple Eagles earned a corner kick and freshman Bryan DaCruz (Barrie, Ont.) headed home the game-tying goal from the en suing corner kick.

The Purple Eagles were controlling the first extra-time period when Justin Roundy (Liverpool, N.Y.) became the second Purple Eagle to receive a red card in the 100th minute. With Iona playing with 10 men and Niagara with nine, both teams packed it in and head into penalty kicks.

Niagara penalty kick takers and goalkeeper all showed poise and confidence. Carl Haworth (Barrie, Ont.) was the first kick taker and he bagged his shot to the left of the keeper. Fiutowski denied Julian Grajales with a diving save to his left. Kauble stepped up and smashed his shot past the keeper. Fiutowski once again stopped a kick, this time diving to his right. MAAC All-Second Team member Anthony DiBiase (Richmond Hill, Ont.) struck a perfectly placed penalty kick and it was the third-straight PK NU put past All-Second Team goalkeer Nils Binstock.

With the Gaels needing to score to keep their season alive, Fiutowski denied Aleksander Haxhari to finish off the Gaels and advance to the tournament final.

 “We practiced penalties (kicks) all week in practice and we know we had John (Fiutowski) can saved them,” McGrane said. “It’s credit to our players that stepped up.  It takes a lot of courage to step up and take one. The saves Fiutowski made were incredible; I never seen any goalkeeper save three straight like that.”