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Team Huddle at Virginia 2024
Keith Lucas/Sideline Media Productions
0
Rider RID (6-3-0, 0-1-0)
1
Winner Iona IONA (3-3-2, 1-0-0)
Rider RID
(6-3-0, 0-1-0)
0
Final
1
Iona IONA
(3-3-2, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rider RID 0 0 0
Iona IONA 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men's Soccer Falls on First-Half PK at Iona, 1-0

Broncs' six-game winning streak snapped in 2023 MAAC Championship rematch

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University men's soccer team fell, 1-0, on a first-half penalty kick in a 2023 MAAC Championship Game rematch at Iona Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps the Broncs' (6-3-0, 0-1-0 MAAC) six-game winning streak, while the Gaels improve to 3-3-2 (1-0-0 MAAC).  

Bryan Akongo (London, England/Harris Academy Orpington [Georgia State/Robert Morris]) developed a series of early chances for the Broncs, with his first two shots on target being deflected wide of the right post and over the crossbar in the sixth and 14th minutes, respectively. An even better chance developed in the 17th minute, with Iona goalkeeper Fernando Schmelz coming off his line and Akongo getting the shot past him. But it clanged off the left post to keep the match scoreless.

The Gaels were awarded and converted a penalty kick in the 29th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Following contact initiated by Iona forward Bautista Rossi near the edge of the 18-yard box, the referee ruled both that it was an infraction on Rider's Momo Diop (Thies, Senegal/Prive Serigne Touba) and took place inside the box for a yellow card and penalty kick. The goal would be the lone tally of the game.

The Broncs took a 17-7 edge in shots for the game, including an 8-2 advantage in the second half, but couldn't find the back of the net. Included in the shot production was one final effort from Jack McGeechan (Allendale, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional) to weave through defenders and create a shot near the top of the box for Andrew Erickson (San Antonio, TX/International School of the Americas [Kentucky]). But his attempt went wide right and the Gaels held on.

Notes
- Iona cut Rider's lead in the all-time series to 16-13-2. Rider is 10-3-1 against Iona since 2015, with the Gaels taking the regular-season meeting in each of the last two seasons.  
- Rider had enjoyed unique success on Mazzella Field, going 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in New Rochelle entering today's match. Included in the success was wins in the 2023 MAAC Championship and 2018 MAAC Quarterfinals. The Gaels had been 6-0 at home prior to the Broncs' win in 2023, while going 7-0-1 in their prior eight before Rider's 2018 MAAC Quarterfinal triumph.  
- Adam Salama (Ramle, Israel/Orthodox [Ottawa Univ.]) made two saves in goal for the Broncs.
- Cole Sotack (Doylestown, PA /Central Bucks East [Rutgers]), McGeechan, Martin Chladek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Voderadska [Montevallo]), Diop, Andrew Erickson (San Antonio, TX/International School of the Americas [Kentucky]), Luke Kirilenko (McKinney, TX/Impington International College [Virginia]) and Salama each played all 90 minutes.
- The start was Kirilenko's first of the year and the fifth of his Rider career.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider took a 17-7 edge in shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal.
- The Broncs took 14 corner kicks to the Gaels' three.
- Both teams were cautioned once.

Up Next
- The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when they travel to Army. Kickoff from West Point is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+. 
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