NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College men's soccer earned its seventh home win of the season on senior day against the Monmouth Hawks on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Sophomore Lenworth Lopez scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 100' to give the Maroon & Gold a 2-1. The Gaels improve their record to 9-5-2, 5-3-1 MAAC.

Following the game, head coach James Hamilton and Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski honored seniors Anthony Gomez, Killian Colombie Samuel Saenz, Rory Head, Sebastian Gordillo, Ali Dawha, George Tsevdos, Claude Diesse and Humbert Ferrer.

GAME SUMMARY

Iona and Monmouth combined for just eight shots in the first half. Gael keeper Giuliano Santucci had to make two first half saves on Anes Mrkulic and Alex Hajj. The Maroon & Gold did not have a shot on goal over the opening 45 minutes. Colombie and Gomez each had shots blocked while junior Francesc Chulia sent one high and rookie Mauro Bravo pushed one wide.

The Gaels first dangerous scoring chance came in the 52'. Colombie took a shot from the top right corner of the box but pushed it wide of the upper left corner. He had relatively clean space after having gotten a long outlet pass.
Colombie made up for the miss with his seventh goal of the season in the 61'. Gomez, a fellow senior, took a corner for Iona and placed it at the top of the box where Colombie was unmarked. The Paris, France native hit a rocket from 18-yard box that rattled the nylon and gave the Maroon & Gold a 1-0 lead. Colombie now has a team-leading and career-best seven goals. Gomez's assist adds to his career-best total which now stands at three.

The Hawks tied the game in the 80' with senior Luke Bromley planting home a penalty kick chance. He was granted the opportunity to score his third of the season after Iona was whistled for a handball in the box. Mrkulic had three straight free kicks that were blocked, and the last resulted in his teammate's score.

Iona nearly won the game in the 88'. Sophomore Tomas Jamett took in a corner kick from Bravo and directed headed it toward the upper right corner. Monmouth's keeper Sean Murray made his first save of the game with his finger tips to ensure his Hawks and the Gaels were extended into overtime.

With 9:18 passed in overtime, the Gaels were granted a penalty kick with Monmouth being called for a handball in the box. With multiple seniors of the pitch, Lopez was chosen and he stepped up to the dot. The sophomore grounded one to the left just inside the post and barely beat the outstretched arms of Murray, who could not stop its precision despite guessing correctly.

STATISTICAL NUGGETS

• Connections to 2013: Iona win against Monmouth is its seventh of the season. The last time that the Gaels won seven games at Mazzella Field was in 2013. The last time the Maroon & Gold won on senior day and its home-finale was in 2013. That day, Iona honored nine student-athletes, just like this Wednesday evening.
• Iona outshot Monmouth 15-11 and had nine corner kicks compared to three for the Hawks. The two teams combined for 38 fouls; 20 called against the Gaels and 18 against the Hawks.
• Eight of Iona's 15 total shots were taken by student-athletes who were honored as part of senior day. Colombie led all shot takers amongst the honorees with three shots.
• Santucci made four saves for the Gaels. The goal allowed on the penalty kick is Iona's first allowed since Oct. 10 against Fairfield. It ends a three game shutout streak.
• Iona is 3-0-2 in overtime games this season. It has wins against Binghamton (Aug. 28), Manhattan (Oct. 17), and Monmouth (Oct. 24). The Gaels tied against LIU Brooklyn (Aug. 24) and Saint Peter's (Oct. 6).

UP NEXT

Iona plays its final regular season game on Saturday, Oct. 27 against Niagara in Lewiston, NY. The game is scheduled to kickoff against at a 1 p.m. The Gaels have a bye on the final day of the season, Wednesday, Oct. 31.

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