RIVERDALE, NY – The Iona College men's soccer team picked up a second straight crucial win on Wednesday evening against the Manhattan Jaspers. Sophomore Josh Plimpton continues to flex his clutch gene with an overtime winner that pushed the Gaels back to 3-3-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
Head Coach James Hamilton started Plimpton for the first time this season and allowed him to play a full 96 minutes. The result was a 1-0 overtime win against neighborhood rival Manhattan. The South Glastonbury, CT native took his one and only shot in the 97' and punched Iona back to .500 in league play.
Rookie Esad Mackic set the play up with an initial shot that was saved by Manhattan keeper, Marcallin Gohier. The deflection took one large hop and Plimpton was able to split a pair of Jasper defenders and strike a grounded ball past Gohier's outstretched arms into the far left corner. The game-winner was put home after Manhattan's Noah Amissah had the overtime's first shot blocked in the 94'.
The Jaspers outshot the Gaels 7-2 in the first half and they had their largest sustained pressure in the middle portion of the frame. From 19:48 to 37:38, Iona had just one shot compared to seven for Manhattan.
Manhattan nearly scored in regulation in the 75'. Lucas Da Silva put one on sophomore Giuliano Santucci and soon after the Jaspers had three shots within a fifteen second stretch. Berti Fourrier had a strike blocked. Milan Devuyst line one up that was calling net but Iona was able to register a team save. Tristan Doran had the last attempt that sailed wide.
The Gaels fell short in the shot discrepancy 17-9. Gohier made four saves and Santucci made three. The Jaspers had three corner kicks compared to two for the Gaels. There were four yellow cards issued in the game.
Iona's next game is on homecoming Saturday, Oct. 20. Kickoff against the Siena Saints is at noon on Mazzella Field. The game is also the program's Maroon Maniacs game. You can watch the game live on ESPN3.
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