EMMITSBURG, MD - The Iona University men's soccer team defeated Mount St. Mary's, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon at Waldron Family Stadium.
Camil Azzam Ruiz's two-goal first half and
Tim Timchenko's first career goal provided the offense, while
Juan Alfaro Monge and company posted a third consecutive clean sheet to officially clinch a top-two seed in the 2022 MAAC Championship.
MATCH SUMMARY
The Iona men's soccer team cruised to its first road victory of the season behind stellar defense and timely offense. Azzam Ruiz registered the fifth multi-goal game of his Maroon & Gold career, with both goals coming during the first half to give Iona a cushion early on. Beyond that, the Mount had virtually nothing going forward offensively in the opening 45 minutes. The Gael defense held them without a shot attempt, something that Iona has now accomplished in three straight matches.
Azzam Ruiz had a solid chance at the first hat trick of his Iona career with just over 20 minutes to play, but his shot found the chest of Ethan Russell in net. A header off a corner later in the match sailed wide as Azzam Ruiz again looked to find twine for the third time. Iona would eventually find its third goal, a Timchenko strike inside the box following a scramble after an Iona corner. The third tally for the Gaels with 10 minutes to play would seal the deal and help the Gaels clinch a first-round bye in the 2022 MAAC Championship.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Today's victory, coupled with Manhattan's draw with Niagara, moves Iona to the top of the MAAC table. Quinnipiac unseated Iona for the top seed with a victory over Canisius later in the afternoon, however.
- By virtue of its tiebreaker over Manhattan, Iona has clinched a top-two seed in the conference after being selected to finish ninth in the 2022 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Azzam Ruiz's brace was his first of the season and the fifth of his Maroon & Gold career. He leads the team with five goals and 12 points this season.
- Timchenko's goal was the first of his career. He is up to three points on the season and five for his career.
- Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez and Matias Morales tallied assists on Iona's first two goals. Gonzalez Fernandez leads the unit with five assists this season and his nine total points are second only to Azzam Ruiz. For Morales, it was the first point of his senior season.
- Iona's defense held the Mountaineers without a shot attempt in the first half, marking the second straight match in which they've accomplished that feat. It was also the third straight match in which an Iona opponent did not register a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
- Monge and the Gaels' have not conceded a goal in three consecutive matches. The scoreless streak for Iona's opponents now spans four matches and 296:43 consecutive minutes of play.
- Iona improves to 3-2-0 all-time against Mount, earning its first MAAC victory over the newest addition to the league. Today's meeting was the first since 2011, a neutral site victory for the Gaels. The Maroon & Gold have now won both matches played in Emmitsburg, with the other victory coming back during the 2006 season.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Manhattan 0 - Niagara 0
- Quinnipiac hosts Canisius at 2:00 p.m. in Hamden, Connecticut.
- Saint Peter's and Rider kickoff at 2:00 p.m. from Jaroschak Field.
- Marist hosts Fairfield under the lights at 7:00 p.m. in Poughkeepsie, New York.
UP NEXT
Iona concludes the regular season on the road at Saint Peter's, visiting Jaroschak Field for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff on Wednesday, November 2.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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