BINGHAMTON, NY — The Iona University men's soccer team earned its second straight victory and first road win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Binghamton on Saturday evening. Rookie
Enbiya Bolur netted the game winner at Bearcats Sports Complex in the 72
nd minute to give Gaels the win over the Bearcats.
It was the second game winning goal of the week for Bolur who tallied his first collegiate goal with the first tally in the 3-0 victory over Stonehill. Fellow rookie
Josh Bells registered his second consecutive shutout in goal for the Maroon & Gold with a career-high four saves.
GAME SUMMARY
The opening half between both teams was deliberate and methodical as just five shots were attempted. There was just one shot on goal by each team through the first 45 minutes of action.
Binghamton looked to strike first with a breakaway attempt in the 18
th minute, but Bells was there to make the charging save from five yards out for Iona.
Iona was held without a shot through the first 30 minutes of action before a flurry of three attempts in a three-minute span. A laser from 35-yards out by graduate student
Yannik Vogel missed high. A charging strike towards the left post by freshman
Andrey Mora Bravo was denied by keeper Daniel Shannon. The half ended with a 35-minute cross from sophomore
Alvaro Maneiro was off by one second to Mora Bravo whose shot sailed just left of the goal.
The Gaels looked to set the pace out of the halftime break with a 7-2 margin on shot attempts through the first 15 minutes of action. Iona finally broke through in the 72
nd minute as Mora Bravo and Bolur worked a give and go breakaway. On the final pass, Bolur made a cut towards the left side and spun around to fire a shot through traffic towards the right post and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
Binghamton looked to find the equalizer down the stretch. Bells came up clutch for the Gaels making two big saves, the first a stop along the left post in the 76
th minute. A big save in the 85
th minute sealed it as the Bearcats were knocking at the doorstep to tie it one final time.
TEAM STATS
- Iona led its opponent in shot attempts for the fourth time this season with a 11-9 edge over Binghamton. It was the second time this season both teams were tied in shots on goal with four each.
- The Gaels led with a 6-3 margin for corner kicks for the game.
- A grueling, physical matchup saw 28 fouls called and six yellow cards handed out with each side recording three yellow cards.
UP NEXT
Iona is a bye week with the opening of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play next weekend. The team is next in action on Tuesday, September 23 for the non-conference finale at James Madison.
