Men's Soccer

Iona and Rider Clinch Spots in the 2023 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship Final on Sunday

EDISON, NJ (Nov. 9, 2023) – The 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s Soccer Championship final is set following Thursday’s semifinal round matches with No. 1 Iona University and No. 3 Rider University securing spots in title match.
 
No. 1 Iona – 1 | No. 4 Manhattan – 0
Mazzella Field | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
Box Score
 
For the second straight year, arch rivals Iona (12-3) and Manhattan (7-8-3) met in the semifinal round of the MAAC Championship, in New Rochelle, NY with the result being identical to a season ago, as the Gaels earned a 1-0 home win over the Jaspers. The difference in the match was a goal by Iona’s Thiago Cagna in the 18th minute of play. Following a foul, 2023 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Tim Timchenko sent a free kick straight at Manhattan keeper Danny DiMarco which deflected off his chest right to Cagna who sent the game-winning goal into the bottom left corner of the net.
 
Iona Notes and Notables
  • Iona outshot Manhattan in the game, 15-9 and put five shots on goal, compared to just one by Jaspers
  • The Gaels held a 5-0 corner kick advantage as well.
  • Nine Gaels had at least one shot, with five recording two or more.
  • 2023 MAAC Golden Boot winner, Camil Azzam Ruiz, led Iona with three shots, one on target in the win.
  • Timchenko, Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez, Aly Camara, and Lans Bovenberg added two shots each.
  • Additionally, Timchenko was credited with the assist on the game’s lone tally.
  • The 2023 MAAC Golden Glove, Juan Alfaro Monge, made one save in goal for the Gaels, recording his fourth clean sheet of the season.
  • This was the second time in less than two weeks that Iona shutout Manhattan, having topped its rival 2-0 on Nov. 1.
  • The win for Iona was the fourth straight and the team has won 11 out of its last 12 overall matches.
  • At Mazzella Field, the Gaels improved to a perfect 6-0 in 2023 and has won 10 straight at home --- the second longest active home winning streak in the nation.
  • Sunday’s final will be the fifth appearance for the Gaels, with last season being the last time the team made the title match.
  • Iona will look to win the program’s second MAAC Championship trophy, with the only other one coming in 2019.
 
Manhattan Notes and Notables
  • The Jaspers were led by reserve Ziv Dahan with three shots in the contests.
  • Gunnar Studenhofft and Sebastiano Musu followed with two shots apiece, while Studenhofft had Manhattan’s lone shot on goal.
  • DiMarco played the full 90 minutes in goal, making four saves in the losing effort.
 
No. 3 Rider – 2 | No. 2 Siena – 0
Hickey Field | LOUDONVILLE, NY
Box Score
 
Rider (11-3-4) upset No. 2 Siena (8-9), 2-0, in Loudonville, NY on Thursday, to punch its ticket into the championship final. The Broncs scored a pair of goals in a 50 second span late in the first half to propel them to the road win. Zaki Alibou opened the scoring in the 37th minute, intercepting Siena goalkeeper Bennet Glinder's pass and firing a rocket inside the left post to put the Broncs ahead 1-0. Just 50 seconds later, Adel Al Masude sent a cross to Alibou, who’s header was saved, but Momo Diop was there to knock in the rebound to give Rider a 2-0 lead, which would stand as the final score.
 
Rider Notes and Notables
  • Rider finished the day with five shots on target and 11 overall shots.
  • The Broncs had a 5-4 corner kick advantage in the victory.
  • The goal by Alibou was the first of the season for him.
  • In addition to his goal, Alibou also added an assist and had three total shots with all three on goal.
  • Diop’s one shot was a successful goal, his third tally on the season.
  • Al Masude, Sebastian Rojek, and Babacar Diene, each had two shots.
  • In goal, Adam Salama made five saves, picking up his sixth shutout of the season.
  • Rider is riding the current longest winning streak in the MAAC, having now won six straight contests and they are unbeaten over the last seven matches.
  • The Broncs advance to the championship final for the second time in three seasons, last making it in 2021, and for the ninth time overall.
  • Rider will be playing for title number sixth on Sunday, last winning the league trophy in 2018.
 
Siena Notes and Notables
  • Siena held the slight advantage in shots (12-11) and recorded five shots on goal.
  • Bilal Hersi and Eric Svensson both had three shots to lead the Saints, while Hersi had two on goal.
  • Carl Melin followed with two shots, one finishing on target.
  • Glinder played all 90 minutes in goal for Siena, making three saves.
 
Iona and Rider will battle it out in the 2023 MAAC Men's Soccer Championship title match on Sunday, November 12. The Gaels will host the Broncs at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, NY at 12 p.m. for the league trophy and the right to earn the MAAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
For all information regarding the 2023 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship, please visit maacsports.com/msoc.
 
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) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Threads or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.