Marist men’s soccer battled for their fourth win of the season at home against Lehigh, winning 1-0 behind a goal from freshman attacker Adriano Iannello. This win sends Marist into their conference slate without a loss for the first time in the 21st century.
Iannello is having a very strong start to his Marist campaign, with two goals and two assists already this season. Both of the freshman’s goals are game-winners.
Graduate student goalkeeper Jamie Lowell kept his third clean sheet of the year and made five saves in the win. Marist has kept shutouts in both of their home games, defending Tenney Stadium strongly.
“Last year we caught the momentum a little late,” said Lowell. “It’s nice to have the defense solidified and be able to come out and shut down.”
Marist also received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll, receiving four votes and finishing behind three teams for a spot in the Top 25.
“It cements what these guys have done,” said head coach Matt Viggiano. “They’ve come through it with flying colors…it bodes well.”
Both teams started slowly with only seven shots combined in the first half. Lehigh (3-2-2) registered the only shot on target in the first 45. As the second half opened and got going each team found their groove a bit, shooting more and fouling less.
Marist (4-0-2) put up six second half shots, half of which on target, and fouled only six times to the 10 of their first half.
The Mountain Hawks looked dangerous early as senior midfielder Jason Pyndath danced though Marist defenders and got a shot off. He continued in the 21st minute with a missed goal that was seemingly harder to miss than to net, keeping the score knotted at zero.
Senior striker Jonathan Salguero and junior midfielder Arion Ulaj entered the game in the 22nd minute as Marist’s first subs and looked to make an impact, but the Red Foxes continued to look disoriented and disconnected.
“We’ve had a tough run and were on the road three times last week, tough turnaround. Legs were iffy and we tried to run more guys than usual,” said Viggiano. “The first thing to go is the decision making but if we can be sharper we’ll be good.”
Junior midfielder Kyle Evans found sophomore defender Evan Marques for a volley in the 29th minute, but was unable to score. Marques, who has a goal and assist thus far, is one of two Red Foxes and the only outfield player (Lowell) to have played all 540 available minutes.
Out of the break it was Lehigh who had the first major chance. Sophomore midfielder Aidan Gonzalez fooled graduate student defender Liam Evans and got a great shot off. Lowell parried it away, denying Gonzalez a great finish and the opening goal.
Marist got the breakthrough seven minutes later when Ulaj found Iannello in behind the Mountain Hawks defense. Iannello beat the keeper on the left side and deposited it into the empty net.
“Coach gave me minutes and I do what I got to do… it’s my job.” said Iannello.
The chances came and went for both sides as Viggiano introduced defensive-minded substitutions in an effort to strengthen his backline. Lehigh pushed for an equalizer and nearly found one on numerous occasions.
Before Lehigh had their biggest chances of the night it was the hosts who got another opportunity. Marques lined up and sent in a free kick from 30-yards out on the right side and found a teammate’s head, but the header sailed just wide and the game remained separated by just one.
Lehigh sent in a corner kick in the 87th minute which bounced around in the box before getting sent out of bounds by a Marist defender. The following corner, taken with building suspense in the air, was able to be cleared.
With less than a minute remaining it looked as though the Mountain Hawks could tie it. Sophomore midfielder Giacomo Zizza sent it to senior midfielder Beckett Wenger who drove it and shot, scaring Lowell but not finding the target.
Sophomore defender Gijs Verhuel was in line to start the match but was scratched just minutes before with a lower body injury. Freshman midfielder Miles Douglas took his place and earned his first career start.
“We missed him tonight. His energy and his athleticism, he’s been very good for us,” said Viggiano. Verhuel is expected to be back in the lineup in the Red Foxes next game.
Marist aims to remain undefeated as they host a winless Quinnipiac side in their MAAC opener. The Red Foxes won both of last year’s matchups between the two sides and will look to make it three while denying the Bobcats their first win.
“As soon as we get to Quinnipiac the record is 0-0,” said Lowell. “Now we’re in conference play and this is what matters.”
Game time is scheduled for 7pm on Saturday, September 20th.
Edited by Hayden Shapiro
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
Photo by Carlisle Stockton
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