LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The Iona University men's soccer team raced out to an early 3-1 lead within the opening 12 minutes of play, eventually cruising to a 5-3 victory over Rider on Wednesday night. The Gaels improve to 4-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with the victory at Ben Cohen Field.

Graduate student Camil Azzam Ruiz and junior Thiago Cagna led the Maroon & Gold with two goals and an assist on the night. Junior Ricardo Senen Pinillos recorded the final Iona goal to go with an assist and senior Aly Camara tallied the final assist on the night.

THE RUNDOWN

Iona applied pressure early in the Broncs zone, as freshman Jad Benjelloun was tripped inside the 18-yard box chasing a rebounded shot at the three-minute mark. That set up Azzam Ruiz to take the penalty kick, sneaking the goal to the right side of the net for the 1-0 lead. The Gaels continued pressure caused a Rider miscue on a clear attempt by goalkeeper Adam Salama allowing for a deflection for the charging Cagna to boot home a shot from 30 yards out and 2-0 advantage.

Rider was granted a penalty kick opportunity at the 10 minute mark after a tie up inside the box, allowing Babacar Diene a chance to score on the penalty kick opportunity.

But the Maroon & Gold on-ball pressure stayed course, as graduate Matias Morales picked up the ball in the Broncs zone. Morales used a no-look heel pass to find Cagna in stride attempting another long range shot that hit off the cross-bar. Azzam Ruiz was there on the chase, slipping through the Rider backline to head in the rebound to put the Gaels up 3-1.

Rider picked up a free kick opportunity just outside the 18-yard box with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. Adel Al-Masude curved his shot left over the Iona wall and just past the diving arm of junior Nacho Alfaro Monge to bring the score to 3-2.

Out of the halftime intermission, Rider looked to keep carrying momentum outshooting the Gaels six to one through the first 19 minutes in the half. Iona settled in with excellent ball movement as Azzam Ruiz sent a pass out wide to Senen Pinillos who drove down the right side. As he drew the defense in, it allowed Cagna to break free in the middle of the box to fire the pass into the back of the net to bring the score to 4-2 in the 68th minute.

The Broncs made it a one-score game shortly after in the 71st minute as Diene headed in the loose ball off a free kick from the left side. The home side looked to level the game over the next 10 minutes with a pair of shots missing off target.

Iona put the game out of reach in the 81st minute as Camara dished his pass out wide right to Senen Pinillos who drove towards the end line and fired his shot through the legs of Salama and in to back of the far post to push the score to 5-3.

GOALIE/TEAM STATS

Monge made three stops on the night while his counterpart Salama recorded two saves. The Broncs out shot Iona 17-11, but the Gaels held a 7-6 for targets on goal.

AROUND THE MAAC

Manhattan (5-0), the other remaining unbeaten team in the MAAC still stands at the top of the table with a win over Fairfield (0-4-1). Iona and Manhattan were the two lone road winners on Wednesday night as Marist (2-1-2) earned a victory over Quinnipiac (0-2-2) and Siena (3-1) carded a 3-1 win over Canisius (0-3-2). Niagara (1-2-2) and Saint Peter's (1-2-1) battled to a 0-0 draw in Jersey City.

UP NEXT

The Gaels return to Mazella Field for Homecoming on Saturday (October 14) for a noon matchup against Saint Peter's. They then will head up to Marist for another 7 p.m. matchup on Wednesday (October 18).