Box Score Men's College Soccer
Rider University 2, Iona College 1
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs defeated Iona College Wednesday night in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game in front of almost 700 fans at Ben Cohen Field.
Rider (9-3-2, 4-1-2 MAAC) is now 5-0 at home this year. “We like Ben Cohen,” said Rider head coach Charlie Inverso. “Ben Cohen has been good to us this year.”
Rider junior Jose Aguinaga (Madrid, Spain) scored on a penalty kick to break a 1-1 tie. It was Aguinaga's third goal of the season, all on PKs.
Rider junior Elliott Otmani (LaCiotat, France) scored 12 minutes into the game on an assist from Aguinaga to give Rider a 1-0 lead. “Elliott snuck one in,” Inverso said. “Jose created a thing of beauty.”
It was Otmani's third goal of the season and Aguinaga's team-high sixth assist.
“We had a good first 25 minutes,” Inverso said. “And what happens to a lot of teams happened to us. After we scored we let up a little bit.”
Iona tied the score in the 35th minute of play on a goal by Daniel Huertas, who has a team-high seven goals and 16 points. “We lost track of him and all of a sudden it was tied,” Inverso said.
Rider out-shot Iona (3-11, 2-4 MAAC) 18-8. “Iona is the best team with three wins that I've seen, ever,” Inverso said. “They are a really dangerous team. It is the same group of guys from last year when they made it to the semifinals.”
Rider senior goalkeeper Ryan Baird (Plainfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) made three saves. “Baird was steady,” Inverso said. “He didn't see much action.”
Rider defeated Iona 2-1 last year in New Rochelle, the Broncs' first win over the Gaels since 2005. Iona holds a 10-8-1 advantage in the series with Rider.
The Broncs are 4-1-1 in October and 5-1-2 in their last eight games.
The second place Broncs host fifth place Fairfield Saturday on Senior Night. “Fairfield is always a tough opponent,” Inverso said. “They are going to be a handful. It is always a good game when we play them here.”
-ru-
