NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College men's soccer program earned its first home win and second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory of the season in dramatic fashion over Marist on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Malcolm Moreno scored his first career goal in the 99th minute to give the Maroon & Gold their decisive 1-0 overtime result.
Moreno gathered the ball at the top of the penalty box after junior Anthony Gomez took control after a Red Fox turnover in the Maroon & Gold attacking zone. Gomez overlapped on a give-and-go with Moreno and found himself with open turf in front of him. Bringing it forward, Gomez pushed it into the box and forced senior goaltender Mark Rajovic to come out and make a deflection. Moreno took the deflection, deked one defender, and rocketed it into the upper half of the net.
Sophomore goaltender Juan Alcantara was a main reason for Moreno having a game-winning chance. In the 97th minute, Red Fox sophomore Ernest Mitchell came within inches of ending the game. Freshman Allen Gavilanes fed one into the box from the right side, and Mitchell tried scoring with a touch of his left foot. Alcantara sprawled and made his third save of the game to keep the Gaels in it.
This afternoon's contest is Alcantara's first win of the 2017 season, and first career shutout.
Senior Killian Colombie had a team-high five shots and three shots on goal. Senior captain Luis Mendoza and freshman Lenworth Lopez each ended with three shot attempts. Marist's offensive attack was Gavilanes, who had three total shots and one shot on goal.
Iona outshot Marist 13 to 9, and had an 8 to 3 shots on goal edge. The Gaels took six corner kicks, and were called for six offside calls.
The Maroon & Gold return to competition against Quinnipiac on Wednesday, Oct. 11 in Hamden CT at 4:00 PM
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