NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University men's soccer team opened up conference play with a 1-0 victory over the defending league champion Marist Red Foxes at Mazzella Field on Saturday afternoon.
Frederik Johnson Oee scored the first goal of his collegiate career and
Juan Alfaro Monge matched a season-high with five saves en route to his second consecutive clean sheet.
MATCH SUMMARY
Marist owned the early advantage in shots, firing two in the opening 10 minutes, one of which Monge saved off the foot of Henrique Cruz. The Red Foxes also had a pair of corners in the 11th and 15th minute, respectively, but Iona did well to clear the danger and keep the visitors from getting a shot off.
Following Marist's second corner of the afternoon, the Gaels counter-attack led to what would be the only goal of the afternoon. Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez and Elird Mero connected on a pass and Mero's cross towards the box found Johnson Oee, who played it off of his chest and buried a left-footed laser into the upper-right corner of the goal to give the Maroon & Gold a lead in the 16th minute.
The Red Foxes upped the tempo on offense, tallying four shots and two corner kicks in an 11-minute span following Iona's goal. Monge made three more saves during the on-slaught, keeping Marist off the board and Iona in front with his stellar play in goal. The lead would hold heading to the halftime break in New Rochelle.
Both keepers were forced to make saves in the opening minutes of second-half action, keeping the score where it was to begin the final 45 minutes. Monge did not make another save after his stop just 90 seconds into the second half. He would face five more shots from Marist, but all five sailed wide or high of the net. Iona's backline did well to limit Marist's opportunities and handed the preseason favorites their second shutout loss of the season.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Johnson Oee's goal was the first of his collegiate career. He is up to three points on the season after notching his first point in Iona's 3-2 victory over NJIT in September.
- Alfaro Monge made four of his five saves in the first half, matching a season-high save total in the victory. The shutout was his second of the season and third of his career.
- Mero and Gonzalez Fernandez teamed up to assist on the game-winning goal. It was Mero's second assist of the season and Gonzalez Fernandez's team-leading fifth point.
- Monge and the Maroon & Gold have strung together 245 straight scoreless minutes at Mazzella Field, dating back to Iona's 3-2 win in the home-opener against NJIT.
- Iona opened league play with a victory for the first time since the 2019 season.
- The Gaels remain unbeaten at home this season, improving to 2-0-1 with today's win over the Red Foxes.
- The Maroon & Gold improved to 11-9-3 all-time against Marist and have now won three straight contests over the Red Foxes. The Gaels have won five straight against the Red Foxes at Mazzella and Marist has not won in New Rochelle since 2010.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Mount St. Mary's 2 - Canisius 1
- Quinnipiac 3 - Fairfield 2
- Siena 0 - Manhattan 0
- Saint Peter's and Niagara play at 7:00 p.m. in Lewiston.
UP NEXT
Iona returns to action on Wednesday, October 5 when Rider visits Mazzella Field for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff in New Rochelle.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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