SYRACUSE, NY - The Iona University men's soccer team fell to Syracuse, 2-0, in the season opener at SU Soccer Stadium.
Juan Alfaro Monge faced 19 shots and made five saves in goal for the Maroon & Gold.
MATCH SUMMARY
Despite some frantic play to begin the evening, Iona controlled the ball well and its physical play allowed for a couple of chances early on. Freshman Joe Wright had two tries turned away in the early going. After transitioning down the pitch, the Orange had a pair of corners that led to the first goal of the night. Nathan Opoku hooked a left-footed shot around two Iona defenders and beat Alfaro Monge to open the scoring in the 14th minute.
Iona settled in after conceding a goal, defending well against some more solid chances by Syracuse. Offensively, the Gaels did not have much going forward, but headed to the half down just one goal to the Atlantic Coast Conference foe in the season opener.
Alfaro Monge went back to work to begin the second half, stopping multiple shots in the first 20 minutes out of the locker room. Syracuse had some other chances sail wide and high and defensively were able to stymie Iona's attack. The Orange tacked on an insurance goal in the 69th minute.
The Gaels never gave in, moving forward looking for a chance to get on the board. Iona was whistled offside on a free kick in the 75th minute, seeing a Federico Russo goal called off. After being inches away from cutting the deficit in half, the Gaels continued the fight, but could muster nothing towards the net in the final moments of regulation.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Alfaro Monge made five saves in the opener. It marked a career high for the Costa Rica native in his second year with the Maroon & Gold.
- Wright was responsible for two of Iona's four shots and accounted for both of Iona's shots on goal at Syracuse. He started in his first collegiate action.
- Frederik Johnson Oee and Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez both cracked the starting lineup in the season opener for Iona.
- Aly Camara and Jose Silva had the other two shots for the Gaels. For Camara, it was his debut for the Maroon & Gold after transferring in from Temple.
- The Orange finished with a 19-4 advantage in the shot column and 7-2 edge in shots on goal. The Gaels had just one corner compared to nine for Syracuse.
- Today's match was the first matchup between Syracuse and Iona in program history.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Manhattan 2 - Holy Cross 0
- Saint Peter's 2 - VMI 2
- Boston College 5 - Quinnipiac 2
- Saint Mary's 3 - Niagara 2
- Marist 2 - Howard 0
- Seton Hall 3 - Rider 0
- Siena 1 - Sacred Heart 0
- Cleveland State 4 - Canisius 0
- Delaware 2 - Mount St. Mary's 0
UP NEXT
Iona plays its next match at Long Island University on Monday, August 29. Kickoff between the Gaels and the Sharks is slated for 2:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on NEC Front Row.
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