NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona University men's soccer team won the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship with a thrilling 1-0 overtime victory over no. 2 Rider on Sunday afternoon. A rematch of last year's final at Mazzella Field, the Gaels avenged the loss to the Broncs and earned the program's second league title and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
netted the game winning golden goal in the 95th minute to seal the victory for the Maroon & Gold. Iona's two MAAC titles have come in overtime with Mauro Bravo scoring in 100th minute for the 3-2 win over Saint Peter's back in 2019. The Gaels back line held Rider to just four shots on goal and two corner kicks for the game. Junior
made four saves for his fifth consecutive win in goal and third shutout of the season for Iona.
MATCH SUMMARY
Even before the match begun, the intensity and pressure was high for both teams. Neither team seemed to play great on the ball in the opening minutes, until Rider star and MAAC Golden Boot winner Momo Diop had a chance on net, but Georgiou made simple work of it.
Diop's chance was the best chance of the half and the only shot on target from either side. Rossi did pick up a yellow late in the half, resulting in sophomore
Francesco Borla entering the game.
Exiting the break, Rider found themselves in another position to strike, but Ezra Punselie did not get much on it and Georgiou again showed great skills to keep the Broncs at bay.
The Gaels found their attacking stride in the 56th minute as senior
Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez's shot was blocked, but the rebound to Benjelloun just did not have the angle to get past MAAC Golden Glove winner Adam Salama.
In the 66th minute, Borla found himself with a chance in the six-yard box, but Salama again making a fantastic save before defenders swarmed to clear the ball away. Just a few minutes later, freshman
Alvaro Maneiro showed great skill on the ball to get past the back line and get his shot past the diving Salama. If it was not for Rider's Theo Da Silva, who headed the ball over the crossbar, the Gaels would have found the opener.
While the Gaels attack was in full force, the counterattack of Rider found themselves with a prime opportunity. In the 71st minute, Rider sent a cross in to Luke Kirilenko who placed it low and on target, but Georgiou kicked it away before it was cleared out.
In the 88th minute, the Maroon & Gold did find the back of the net after Gonzalez Fernandez crossed it into the box for Rossi, who headed it down to Benjelloun, but it would be determined offside. Then after the VAR review, Benjelloun was shown his second yellow for removing his jersey and was sent off with less than two minutes to play in regulation.
Iona was able to hang on in the last two minutes and send the game to extra time. MAAC postseason extra time rules are two 10-minute halves with golden goal, meaning first goal wins. If no team scores, then it would be determined by penalty kicks.
Down a man for the remainder of the match, the Maroon & Gold had to keep control of play in the midfield and find ways to create chances.
In the 95th minute, senior
Tim Timchenko sent a long ball into the box towards Rossi. Salama came out to make a play on the ball, but defender Cole Sotack headed it towards net where it would deflect off the post and Rossi would smash it past the diving keeper and to seal the win and send the Iona faithful into a frenzy.
TEAM STATS
- The Gaels held a 17-10 advantage on shots for the game with an even 4-4 total for shots on goal.
- Georgiou and Iona made four saves while Rider and Salama made three.
- The Maroon & Gold were shown three yellows and a red card, while Rider only saw two yellows.
- The Gaels led the Broncs on corner kicks with a 7-2 margin for the game.
2024 MAAC MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
- Iona was represented on the All-Championship team by Rossi, Cagna, Gonzalez Fernandez and Timchenko.
- Rossi scored in all three postseason games for the Gaels and slotted in the game winner in the final.
- Cagna led Iona with three assists in the post season and tallied one goal in their opening match against the Mount.
- Timchenko was the leader for Iona's backline and had the one assist in the match against Marist and set up the game winning goal in the final.
- Gonzalez Fernandez was the catalyst both offensively and defensively for the Maroon & Gold. While he did not get on the scoring sheet, his play was crucial, and he was named 2024 MAAC Men's Soccer Most Valuable Performer.
Up Next
The Gaels will find out who the NCAA Tournament draw on Monday afternoon with the selection show airing at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com. The team's opening game in the tournament is set for Thursday, November 21st.
