NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College men’s soccer team suffered their first conference loss of the season Saturday afternoon, falling at home to the Rider Broncs, 2-1. The Gaels controlled the tempo for the majority of the match, however two early goals from Rider proved enough to hold off the Maroon and Gold.
Florian Valot got the Broncs on the board first, knocking home a penalty kick shot in the 16th minute. It was Rider’s first goal of the conference season after being shutout their first two league contests, and the fourth overall for the senior goal scorer.
Rider opened up a two goal lead in the 20th minute; Valot passed a ball into the box, finding the foot of sophomore Elliott Otmani. An Iona defenseman was able to get a piece of Otmani’s shot, but the ball had enough muster from the forward to still make it into the back of the net.
Trailing 2-0, the Iona offense came to life and applied heavy pressure for nearly the remainder of the game. Such persistence proved profitable in the final seconds of the first half when the Gaels earned a penalty kick at the 44:55 minute mark. Junior co-captain Oscar Gonzalez stepped up and buried the opportunity, pulling the Maroon & Gold to within one before the break.
Overall in the opening frame, the game was close in terms of statistical categories. Rider outshot Iona 11-10, and Julian Petrello had to make six saves against the Broncs attack. After the first half, the Maroon & Gold had an edge in corner kick attempts, 6-3.
Iona’s defense would stiffen in the second half with Rider only attempting two shots in the final 45’, both off goal. Iona would garner their best scoring chance at the 52:46 mark; sophomore Joshua Calderon had an attempt saved by Rider senior goalkeeper Ryan Baird, and then Marcos Nunez would a shot blocked out-of-bounds by the Bronc backline.
Nunez led Iona with four shots in the game, and sophomore Luis Mendoza fired three of his own.
Iona drew 26 Rider fouls in the game, while committing 15 of their own.
The next match for the Maroon & Gold will be this Wednesday, Oct. 7 at home against MAAC rival Fairfield. Kickoff scheduled for 2:00 pm at Mazzella Field.
