POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The No. 16/25 Iona College men's soccer team extended its winning streak to seven and improved to 12-1 overall on the season holding on for a 2-1 win at Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action. Rookie F Ignacio "Nacho" Maganto scored twice in the first half to lead the Gaels in the victory.
Maganto put the Maroon & Gold on the scoreboard, taking a long pass from the nation's leading assist man - sophomoreFranklin Castellanos - in the 27th minute and chipping a shot over Marist keeper Steve Skonieczny from 15 yards out. It was Castellanos' NCAA-leading 11th assist of the season.
The rookie Madrid-native gave Iona a two-goal advantage a little more than eight minutes later as he found the back of the net again off of junior F Ansger Otto pass. Maganto gained the team's scoring lead with his sixth tally of the season. Otto - Iona's No. 2 goal scorer - earned his first assist as a Gael.
Marist freshman Matt Wendelken halved the home team's deficit early in the second half. Wendelken headed a corner kick from teammate Anthony Rozmus past Iona netminder Borja Barbero in the 63rd minute.
Barbero made two key saves in the final 11 minutes of the contest to hold off a late Marist charge.
Barbero and Skonieczny each stopped three shots in net. For the game, Iona outshot Marist 13-10 and held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.
The Gaels put their perfect 5-0 conference mark on the line when they are back in action on Sunday afternoon at Siena in Loudonville.
