LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ –
Francisco Gomez Olano Cadiz, Spain/Univ. of Cadiz) scored the game-winning goal in the 56
th minute and graduate student goalkeeper
Pablo Gatinois (Madrid, Spain/Lycee Francais de Madrid [Oregon State]) and the Broncs' defense posted its first clean sheet of the year as the Rider University men's soccer team defeated Iona, 1-0, Wednesday night on Ben Cohen Field. The shutout was Gatinois' program-record tying 15
th career clean sheet. With the result, the Broncs' third-straight win and fourth-straight unbeaten, Rider improves to 8-5-2 (5-2-1 MAAC), while the Gaels slip to 6-8-2 (3-5-1 MAAC).
Following a scoreless first half, Gomez Olano struck for the lone goal of the game in the 56
th minute. The Gaels attempted to play the ball back from the midfield, but the pass sailed over their back's head.
Zaki Alibou (Meknes, Morocco/Meknes) beat the defender to the ball in the right corner, dribbled to the corner of the 18-yard box and fed Gomez Olano for a right-footed finish inside the right post. The Gaels generated chances over the final 35 minutes, but Gatinois and the Broncs' defense successfully fought them off for the shutout.
Quotes & Notes
"We played hard. I'm proud of the boys. It's been a season of overcoming obstacles. (Iona) were on us for a long stretch in the second half. I was proud of the way we responded."
"We just got off the phone with Chip Maruca, former Ewing Police Captain, whose record (Gatinois) tied. Chip is a great guy and was a great goalkeeper and, listen – I couldn't be happier for Gato. He didn't play for a stretch of 45 days. He was superb on Saturday and again today. Talk about a guy who's taken advantage of his second opportunity. I couldn't be happier for him." –
Rider Head Coach Charlie Inverso
- Rider owns a 15-11-1 edge in the all-time series with the Gaels. The Broncs have won nine of the last 10 against Iona, including five-straight on Ben Cohen Field and three-straight overall.
- Rider scored first for a second-consecutive game and sixth time this season. The Broncs are 5-1-0 this season when scoring first.
- Gatinois made three saves to tie Chip Maruca '93 for the program shutouts record.
- The win was the 22
nd of Gatinois' Rider career.
- With two games remaining in league play, the Broncs improved their positioning in the MAAC standings to second place with 16 points, three behind Marist for first and one ahead of Monmouth (15).
- Tonight's win clinched a berth in the eight-team MAAC Championship field.
- Seven yellow cards were shown in the game – five to Iona and two to Rider.
- Gatinois,
Lenny Cidolit (Montpellier, France/Montpellier Univ.),
Regis Dulck (Ostwald, France/Lycee Jean Monnet Strasbourg), Gomez Olano,
Taner Bay (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas),
Guillaume Sarrabayrouse (Toulose, France/Pierre Paul Riquet) and Alibou each played all 90 minutes.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Alibou and Iona's Camil Azzam Ruiz entered the game tied for the league lead in goals with 10 apiece. While neither would score, Niagara's Jelldrick Dallman scored his 10
th and 11
th goals in defeat for the Purple Eagles at Marist to take the league lead.
- Alibou remains the league leader in points with 25, ahead of Dallman and Azzam Ruiz with 23 points apiece.
- Gomez Olano scored his third goal of the year and now has eight points.
- For the game, Rider outshot Iona, 13-11. Both teams put three shots on target.
- Iona took eight corner kicks to the Broncs' four.
Up Next
- The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they welcome Siena. Prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff from Ben Cohen Field, the Broncs will honor their six seniors on Senior Day.
