EDISON, NJ (Nov. 17, 2024) – The 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Soccer Championship concluded on Sunday afternoon with No. 1 Iona University defeating No. 2 Rider University in overtime at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, NY. The championship was the second in program history for the Gaels.
No. 1 Iona – 1 | No. 2 Rider – 0 OT
Mazzella Field | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
Box Score
Top-seeded Iona (11-4-3) scored the golden goal in overtime to defeat No. 2 Rider (14-5-1), 1-0 and secure the 2024 Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday afternoon in New Rochelle, NY.
During the first 45 minutes of action, neither team found the back of the net and action was at a minimal with Rider holding a 4-3 shot edge, while just one shot was on goal between both teams.
In the second half, action picked up and both teams produced offense and defense over the final 45 minutes of regulation. Most notably, in the 66
th minute, Iona’s Francesco Borla got a shot off directly in front of the goal but Rider’s Adam Salama made a kick save to preserve the 0-0 tie. Minutes later in the 71
st minute, the favor was returned with Loukas Georgiou of Iona making a save against Rider’s shot attempt by Luke Kirilenko. Late in the contest with two minutes to play in regulation, Iona’s Jad Benjelloun was issued his second yellow card of the game, causing his ejection and forcing the Gaels to play a man down the rest of the way. Neither side scored the go-ahead goal and the match was sent into overtime. The action filled second half produced 16 total shots, with Iona holding the 10-6 advantage, and both teams had an even three shots on goal apiece.
Halfway through the first overtime in minute 95, Bautista Rossi recovered a ball off the post in the box and sent the game-winning goal into the back right side of the goal to clinch the championship for the Gaels.
Iona Notes and Notables
- Iona wins the MAAC title for the second time in program history, the first since 2019, with that championship also being won in overtime (3-2 over Saint Peter’s).
- The two men’s soccer trophies for Iona are tied for fourth among current MAAC members with Quinnipiac and Saint Peter’s.
- Iona avenged last season’s championship defeat to Rider and earned its first postseason victory over the Broncs since 2019.
- The Gaels also avoided becoming the first team to lose in three straight championship games since Fairfield from 1991 to 1993 with the win.
- The Gaels had the advantage in shots (17-10) and corner kicks (7-2) and also had four shots on goal.
- Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez led the team with six shots, followed by three shots each from championship hero Rossi and Thiago Cagna.
- Alvaro Maneiro added two shots with one on target.
- Loukas Georgiou made four saves in goal and recorded his second postseason shutout in the win.
- The Gaels improve to 6-0-1 at home versus MAAC opponents this season, and 7-1-1 overall at Mazzella Field in 2024.
- Iona has also won seven straight matches heading to the NCAA Tournament.
Rider Notes and Notables
- Rider finished with 10 shots with four on goal.
- Leading the Broncs in shots was Momo Diop, who finished with a team-high four shots, two on goal.
- Ezra Punselie followed with two shots, one on goal.
- Adam Salama made two saves in net.
- The defeat for Rider was the first in over a month, having last been defeated back on October 1 to Army, and was the first MAAC defeat for the team since falling to Iona back on September 28.
Iona earns the MAAC automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The Gaels will find out their opponent during the Division I NCAA men's soccer selection show on Monday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. ET. The selection show can be streamed live on
NCAA.com.
| 2024 MAAC Men’s Soccer All-Championship Team |
| Joseph Daher |
Marist |
| Richard Morel |
Marist |
| Tomislav Vrdoljak |
Siena |
| Henrik Winkelmann |
Siena |
| Momo Diop |
Rider |
| Adam Salama |
Rider |
| Cole Sotack |
Rider |
| Bautista Rossi |
Iona |
| Thiago Cagna |
Iona |
| Tim Timchenko |
Iona |
| Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez (MVP) |
Iona |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist College, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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