NEW YORK, NY - The Iona College men's soccer team ended its non-conference portion of the schedule with a 1-0 victory at Columbia on Saturday night. Alessio Hernandez scored the first goal of his career in the 12th minute on an assist by Tim Timchenko.

Starting goalkeeper Juan Alfaro Monge made two saves on breakaways in the opening 10 minutes, setting the table for Hernandez to give the Gaels the lead. Timchenko threaded a pass up through midfield for Hernandez, who dribbled a few times and blasted a right-footed shot into the back of the net, accounting for all of the scoring.

Alfaro Monge held tough in his first start with the Maroon & Gold, getting some help from the crossbar late in the match. Iona nearly added insurance goals on multiple occasions, though they could never convert. It proved to be unnecessary though, as Hernandez's goal was the decisive one in the Gaels' final non-conference tilt of 2021.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Hernandez scored the first goal of his collegiate career, his first two points of the season and the third of his career.
• Timchenko had the assist on the game winner, the first point of the rookie's career.
• Alfaro Monge made the start between the pipes, earning the win in his first appearance as a member of the Maroon & Gold.
• Iona finished with an edge in shots (16-7), shots on goal (7-4) and corners (5-2).
• Camil Azzam Ruiz finished with a match-high four shots, three of which were on target.
• Thiago Cagna made the first start of his collegiate career on the backline for Iona.

AROUND THE MAAC

• Northeastern topped Quinnipiac, 3-2, in Hamden.
• Siena toppled Brown at home, 3-2.
• Cornell ran through Marist, 5-1, in Ithaca.
• Monmouth lost to Penn, 1-0, in Philadelphia.

UP NEXT

Iona opens up Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, September 29 against Manhattan. The Gaels and the Jaspers kick off league play at 3:00 p.m. in Riverdale.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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