Saint Peter's Wins 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Men's Soccer Championship
MAAC Sports
Baltimore, Md. - Saint Peter's College earned its second MAAC title with a 2-1 victory over Iona College in the title game of the 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Men's Soccer Championship at the Ridley Athletic Complex on the campus of Loyola University Maryland.
In the 25th minute, Iona freshman defender Marcellin Bilali received a red card after being called for a handball in the box. The Gaels would play one man down for the remainder of the match. Saint Peter's senior midfielder Lebogang Pila then scored the penalty kick to give the Peacocks a 1-0 lead.
In the 59th minute, Pila sent a pass to the left side to senior forward Mauricio Jimenez, who took a shot from 10 yards out and sent the ball into the right side of the net to make it 2-0 in favor of Saint Peter's.
Iona senior midfielder Julian Grajales brought the Gaels within one, kicking in his fourth goal of the season from close in front in the 66th minute. Grajales was aided in his efforts by freshman forward Orlando Castaneda and sophomore defender Robbie Krohmer.
It appeared that Iona tied the game in the 74th minute, but the goal was called back following an offsides call against the Gaels. The Peacocks would hold off the Gaels in the remaining minutes to win this year's MAAC men's soccer title.
Saint Peter's goalkeeper Carlos Suarez recorded two saves for the top-seeded Peacocks. Iona's Michael Jordan posted six saves between the pipes for the third-seeded Gaels.
Pila was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship, joining teammates Suarez, Braulio Constantino and Assaf Sheleg on the All-Tournament Team. Iona was represented by Grajales, Roberto Hernandez-Raan and Mario Rios on the squad. Siena College's Matt Hemsley and Joey Tavernese as well as Loyola's Mike Deasel and Wade McHugh rounded out the members of the All-Tournament Team.
Saint Peter's has earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA® Division I Men's Soccer Championship. The bracket announcement will take place on Monday, November 15 between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. The first round games will begin on Thursday, November 18.
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Game 1:
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1st
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2nd
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Final
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Iona (9-9-1, 6-3 MAAC)
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0
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1
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1
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Saint Peter's (13-5-1, 7-1-1 MAAC)
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1
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1
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2
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Scoring: Lebogang Pila (unassisted) 25:27; Mauricio Jimenez (Pila) 59:27; Iona - Julian Grajales (Orlando Castaneda, Robbie Krohmer) 66:16
Saves: Iona - Michael Jordan 6; Saint Peter's - Carlos Suarez 2
Shots: Saint Peter's 23, Iona 6
Corner Kicks: Iona 4, Saint Peter's 3
Fouls: Saint Peter's 17, Iona 11
Offsides: Saint Peter's 5, Iona 4
Yellow Cards: Saint Peter's 3, Iona 2
Red Cards: Iona 1, Saint Peter's 0