Iona (2-4-2, 1-2-0 MAAC) – 2
Monmouth (4-5-1, 1-1-0 MAAC) – 3
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ –In its first home MAAC game of the season, the Monmouth University men's soccer team defeated Iona, 3-2. Sophomore Geoff Schaefer scored a goal and added an assist in the win, giving him five points on the season. Redshirt freshman John Antunes opened the scoring in the 29^th minute with his second goal of the season, as freshman Dan Frisch-Harmon picked up his third assist of the season. Junior Zachary Pereira gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead in the 44^th minute on a header, as he gathered the assists from freshman Anes Mrkulic and Schaefer. After Iona made it 2-1 in the 49^th minute, Schaefer gave Monmouth the 3-1 cushion in the 57^th minute with a header to the near post. Sophomore Andy Martinez picked up the assist on Schaefer's goal, and now has five points this season. Junior Bobby Edwards picked up his fourth win of the season, making four saves in the contest. The Hawks will continue conference play when they travel to Manhattan on Saturday for a 6:00 PM kick.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"It was a hard fought conference game tonight.  I was happy with the energy we had in the first half.  Iona is a good team.  They showed some tremendous character and had a good second half.  We are a young group and still learning valuable lessons as the season progresses.  Conference games ae always difficult, so we are happy to come away with the 3 points." – Head Coach Rob McCourt
-In the 29^th minute, Frisch-Harmon dribbled to the endline and passed to the top of the six, where Antunes buried it in the top left corner.
-After subbing into the game, Pereira gave Monmouth the 2-0 lead just before halftime, as he buried the header after receiving the pass from Mrkulic and Schaefer.
-In the beginning of the second half, Iona's Humbert Ferrer headed in the goal off the set piece, despite Monmouth's Edwards getting a hand on it.
-Schaefer's header slowly inched forward after Iona's keeper got a piece of it, but it found the back of the net to put Monmouth back ahead 3-1.
-Iona made it interesting with a goal in the 82^nd minute to make it 3-2, but the Hawks were able to hold on for their first conference win of 2017.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Antunes is now tied for the team lead with six points (two goals, two assists).
-Schaefer (two goals, one assist) and Martinez (one goal, three assists) both increased their point total to five on the season.
-Pereira scored his second goal of the season and seventh of his career.
-Frisch-Harmon is tied for the team lead with three assists.
-Monmouth is now 3-1-0 in West Long Branch this season.
-Mrkulic picked up his first career assist.
-Junior Jalil Blalock made his first appearance of the season after injury and started his 26^th career game.

UP NEXT
Monmouth will travel to Manhattan on Saturday at 6:00 PM. The Hawks own an 8-1-2 all-time record against the Jaspers.