Men's College Soccer
Iona College 3, Rider University 0
NEW ROCHELLE, NY?The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at Iona Sunday. “We lost two defenders (senior Colin Jennings of Wall and sophomore Corey Diamond of East Brunswick) to injuries in the first half,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager, “and it didn't get any better after that.”
Iona (9-4-1, 3-2 MAAC) scored 12:51 into the game to take a 1-0 lead. The Purple Eagles made it 2-0 4:33 into the second half and took a 3-0 lead five minutes later. “We played lethargic in the first half,” Fager said. “In the second half we came out playing hard, but then they got the second goal and you could just see the enthusiasm wasn't there.”
Iona out-shot Rider (2-12-2, 1-5 MAAC) 24-7. “They were much better than we were today,” Fager said.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Christopher Pimentel (Brick/Brick Memorial) made six saves. “If it hadn't been for Chris in the first half we would really have been in trouble,” Fager said. “He made three big saves in the first half alone. Chris and junior Cameron Bertel (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) played very well today.”
Senior Anthony Gilbert (Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks South) had two of Rider's seven shots and one of Rider's two shots on goal
Rider and Iona have now met 11 times with Rider holding a 6-3-1 advantage in the series that began in 1997. Rider last defeated Iona in 2005. The Gaels won 1-0 last season in Lawrenceville.
The Broncs return home Friday, October 31 for a MAAC game against Manhattan on Halloween at 3pm. “It will be good to be back home,” Fager said. “I think we have the potential to get a win or two at home this weekend.”
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