2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Semifinals Matchups Are Set

4/11/2021 10:00:00 PM

No. 1 Quinnipiac University – 1 | No. 8 Siena College – 0
2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship – Quarterfinal
Quinnipiac Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium | Hamden, CT

In the 78th minute, Quinnipiac’s David Bercedo broke a scoreless tie to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. The lone goal was enough for Quinnipiac to defeat Siena, as Bobcats’ Goalkeeper Antreas Hadjigavriel posted his second-straight clean sheet. Quinnipiac (6-1-0, 5-1-0 MAAC) will now advance to the semifinals where they will face fifth-seeded Fairfield on Wednesday, April 14. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Quinnipiac Notes

Quinnipiac outshot Siena 24-5. The Bobcats also earned 10 corner chances.
David Bercedo's goal is his third of the season. The sophomore ranks second on the team with seven points (3g, 1a).
Domen Bozic recorded one assist today. The assist on the game-winning goal is Bozic's second career helper.
Brage Aasen and Tomas Svecula each attempted a team-leading five shots for the Bobcats.
Goalkeeper Antreas Hadjigavriel has now posted back-to-back clean sheets and has not allowed a goal in 203 minutes.
Quinnipiac improves to 9-1-2 all-time against the Saints and have won the last six matches.

Siena Notes

Cole Hellert and Jack Mendrysa led Siena in shots with two.
Goalkeeper Greg Monroe faced 24 shots and made nine saves, both of which set season-highs.

No. 2 Rider University – 4 | No. 7 Iona College – 1
2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship – Quarterfinal
Ben Cohen Field | Lawrenceville, NJ

The Rider Broncs (3-0-1, 2-0-1 MAAC) were able to jump out to an early lead with a goal from Guillermo Pavia Vidal in the 20th minute. Not long after, the Broncs were awarded a penalty kick and it was buried by Pablo DeCastro. Shortly into the second half, DeCastro was able to find his second goal of the game to give Rider a 3-0 lead. Iona (2-4-1, 2-3-1 MAAC) managed to find the back of the net in the 78th minute, however the Broncs were able to tally a late insurance goal and defeat the defending champion Gaels, 4-1, to keep their undefeated season alive. Rider will face the sixth-seeded Monmouth Hawks in the semifinals on Wednesday, April 14. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Rider Notes

Guillermo Pavia Vidal’s first-half tally was the first goal of his collegiate career.
Preseason All-MAAC forward Pablo DeCastro scored his first two goals of the season to give him a team-leading four points (2g, 0a).
Francis Gomez Olano assisted on two goals today. He has assisted on three of Rider’s six goals this season.
The Broncs improved to 8-9 all-time against the Gaels, with all eight victories coming in their last nine matches.
This is the second time in the past three seasons that Rider has knocked Iona out of the MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship.

Iona Notes

Esad Mackic scored his first goal of the season in the loss. The goal was the eighth of his career.
Azal Dottin played all 90 minutes in net for Iona, making two saves.
The Gaels managed just six shots overall, two of which were on net. Iona’s Josh Plimpton had a team-high two shots.

No. 3 Niagara University – 1 | No. 6 Monmouth University – 2
2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship – Quarterfinal
Niagara Field | Niagara University, NY

The sixth-seeded Monmouth Hawks (3-2-1, 2-2-1 MAAC) were able to pull off the biggest upset of the quarterfinals as they took down the third-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles (5-3-0, 4-2-0 MAAC) by a score of 2-1. The Hawks have now defeated the Purple Eagles in back-to-back games, mounting comebacks in both games. After taking a red card and conceding a penalty kick goal by Niagara’s Federico Cugge, the Hawks were able to mount the comeback in the second half as they tallied two goals to take the game, 2-1. Monmouth advances to the semifinals and will face off against second-seeded Rider on Wednesday, April 14. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Monmouth Notes

The Hawks were able to tally two goals in a 1:28 span while down a man.
In the 58th minute, Liam McGregor was able to send a cross that found Julian Gomez as he headed in the equalizer to make it a 1-1 game.
Just 1:28 after the Hawks first goal, Monmouth was awarded a free kick. Christoffer Jensen sent the ball into the box and found Robin Oswald as he tapped in the game-winning goal.
McGregor and Gomez are tied for the team lead in goals this season with three. McGregor also leads the team in points with eight (3g, 2a).
Facing 23 shots and five on goal, goalie Sean Murray allowed only one goal on a penalty kick.
This was the Hawks second-straight victory over Niagara as they improved to 8-2-1 all-time against the Purple Eagles.

Niagara Notes

In the 19^th minute, the Purple Eagles were awarded a penalty kick following a red card on Monmouth. Federico Cugge was successful on the attempt and gave Niagara a 1-0 lead.
Stephen Hasse, Luigi Boa Morte, Rodrigo Almeida, Nuukele Gboe, and Kevin Payne were all tied with three shots apiece.
Goaltender Josh Savoni played all 90 minutes in net and made five saves as he faced 13 shots and seven on goal.
The Purple Eagles outshot the Hawks, 23-13, and also held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

No. 4 Saint Peter’s University – 0 | No. 5 Fairfield University – 1
2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship – Quarterfinal
Jaroschak Field | Jersey City, NJ

It took till the 89th minute for the Fairfield Stags (4-2-1, 3-2-1 MAAC) to find the back of the net, but the last-minute tally gave the Stags the victory over Saint Peter’s (3-3-1, 3-2-1 MAAC), 1-0. The Stags offense finally came through as they were able to outshoot the Peacocks 17-8 in the game. With the victory, Fairfield advances to the semifinals where they will face the top-seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats on Wednesday, April 14. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Fairfield Notes

Hugo Espeula Hurtado’s header found the back of the net in the 89th minute for the game’s only goal. It was also Hurtado’s first goal of the season.
Jonathan Filipe had one assist on the day and leads the Stags with eight points (3g, 2a) this season.
Fairfield recorded 17 shots on the day with five being on goal.
The Stags collected eight corner kicks, doubling the Peacocks’ four on the day.

Saint Peter’s Notes

Jordan Jowers paced the Peacocks’ attack on Sunday, leading all players with five shots, with two on goal.
Robbie Anderson finished the day with four saves while facing 17 shots.
Saint Peter’s was able to muster eight shots, two of which were on goal.

2020-21 MAAC MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
2020-21 MAAC MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, April 11	Match-Up	Time	Network
Quarterfinal #1*	No. 2 Rider 4 vs. No. 7 Iona 1	2:00 p.m.	ESPN+
Quarterfinal #2*	No. 3 Niagara 1 vs. No. 6 Monmouth 2	2:00 p.m.	ESPN+
Quarterfinal #3*	No. 1 Quinnipiac 1 vs. No. 8 Siena 0	3:00 p.m.	ESPN+
Quarterfinal #4*	No. 4 Saint Peter’s 0 vs. No. 5 Fairfield 1	3:00 p.m.	ESPN+

Wednesday, April 14
Semifinal #1*	No. 2 Rider vs. No. 6 Monmouth	TBA	ESPN+
Semifinal #2*	No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. No. 5 Fairfield	TBA	ESPN+

Saturday, April 17
Championship Game*	Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner	TBA	ESPN+

The 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship continues on Wednesday, April 14, with the semifinal round. The 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, April 17. Keep up with all MAAC soccer action by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and by searching #MAACSoccer.

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40^th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.