NEWARK, NJ - The Iona University men's soccer team earned its second straight win, holding off NJIT at Lubetkin Field. The Gaels jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and withstood a strong Highlander charge in the final 29 minutes to pick up the non-conference win.

THE RUNDOWN

Sophomore Tom Fillaudeau buried a penalty kick past Caden Pellito to the lower left side of the net to give Iona a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. In a foot race to a loose ball between Pellito and rookie forward Francesco Borla, the NJIT keeper tripped up Borla in the penalty area leading to Fillaudeau's try. It was the Iona defender's first collegiate goal, in this 18th game in Maroon & Gold.
 
Iona's second goal finished a long possession by the Gaels. Graduate Matias Morales led freshman Jad Benjelloun down to the endline outside of the six-yard box. Benjelloun chipped the ball from the left side on to the head of senior Aly Camara who found the back of the net for his fourth collegiate goal and first of the 2023 season in the 28th minute. Benjelloun earned his first collegiate point while Morales picked up his team-leading third assist.
 
The Gaels held the Highlanders to just one shot in the first 60 minutes of the contest and had a 5-1 advantage in the statistic. NJIT led 11-9 in shots for the game, posting 10 in the final 30.
 
The home team's lone goal came in the 78th minute as Cristian LoGrasso put the Highlanders on the board. They would get just one more shot attempt off following the goal, a long distance try in the game's final minute.

GAME STATS

Camara and Frederik Johnson Oee each had two shots in the game to lead the Gaels. Junior Nacho Alfaro Monge made four saves for the Maroon & Gold.

SERIES HISTORY

Iona improved to 7-1-1 in the series vs. NJIT and has now won six straight and is 3-0 vs. since resuming the rivalry in 2021.

UP NEXT

Iona returns to action in 11 days when it hosts Canisius at Mazzella Field on Saturday, September 30 for a 1 p.m. start time.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
Iona Gaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates).
Iona Men's Soccer: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.