WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Iona University scored a pair of goals in each half and secured a 4-1 win over the Monmouth University men's soccer team in the season opener for both squads on Friday afternoon.
Javier Losa scored on a penalty kick and
Herman Johnsen contributed a career-high 10 saves to lead the Monmouth efforts in the contest. Iona had a 22-18 edge in shots in the game while Monmouth held a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
"Full credit to Iona today, they are a well-coached teamed and they did a good job of punishing our mistakes," said Monmouth head coach
Robert McCourt. "We have a really good group of young men. If we can mature quickly enough, we can have a very positive season. We're excited to play our first CAA game in our next contest."
Iona tested the Monmouth defense early, getting off a pair of shots in the first 15 minutes of the contest. Johnsen saved one and the other shot was blocked.
The Gaels got on the board at 20:06 as Calle Sjoberg picked off a pass by the Hawks on a free kicks and slipped it home.
Iona took a 2-0 lead at 31:06 of the first half. Enbiya Bolur fired off a shot that Johnsen saved, however Ignacio Manzanares collected the rebound and scored.
Freshmen
Rokas Jarusevicius and
Marco Li Vigni both put shots on goal in the final 10 minutes of the period but Iona goalkeeper Josh Bells turned away both shots. Iona took a 2-0 lead at the break.
Gallery: (8-21-2026) Monmouth Men's Soccer vs. Iona
The Hawks brought the energy to start the second half as they gained six corner kicks in the period's first 10 minutes, but the Gaels were able to clear the ball off the line.
Iona pushed its lead in the match to 3-0 on a Ricardo Vivo Calderon goal at 48:13.
Monmouth broke through on the scoreboard at 53:09 as Losa was awarded a penalty kick following a foul in the box. Losa buried the shot in the lower left hand corner of the net for his first goal as a Hawk and made it a 3-1 match.
Iona continued to test Johnsen in a goal and the sophomore responded. Johnsen made four saves in a span of just over two minutes.
Monmouth was awarded its second penalty kick of the second half at 76:54 but
Victor Andersson's shot was saved and
Aaron Rodrigues' follow up shot on the rebound was also saved as well.
Iona capped the scoring at 77:19 as Francesco Borla's initial shot was saved by Johnsen but Manzanares scored on the rebound.
Iona claimed the 4-1 victory.
Bells finished with five saves to earn the win in goal for the Gaels. Johnsen's 10 saves were a career-high and the most by a Hawk since Sean Murray had 10 against Iona on Nov. 6, 2019.
Rodrigues led the Hawks with three shots while Losa put both of his chances in the contest on goal.
Eight Hawks made their Monmouth debuts in the contest. That group included freshmen Rodrigues, Li Vigni and
Brady Orendac who all started in their collegiate debut.
The Hawks are back in action on Saturday, Aug. 29 when they open CAA play by hosting Drexel at 7 pm.
