After Marist men’s soccer’s undefeated 4-0-2 start, including a 3-0-1 record on the road, we asked our writers to illustrate what has gone into Marist’s impressive start to the season.
At this point in the season, many roles on the roster have become solidified. With both underclassmen and veteran players establishing themselves, who has impressed you the most so far?
Ryan Eichem, Men’s Soccer Beat Writer: I have been very impressed by the sophomore season of defender/winger Evan Marques and the junior season of midfielder Kyle Evans. Marques scored the winner in Marist’s opener and has since added an assist to his name. The preseason All-MAAC first-teamer has played every minute possible and looked strong. Evans has yet to add a goal to the assist he’s already provided, but it hasn’t been without trying. The attacking midfielder has rifled 16 shots so far, with seven on target. He’s also racked up minutes, providing stability and creativity in Marist’s attack.
Chris Dodway, Contributor: A new addition to the team this season, freshman winger/midfielder Adriano Iannello, has stood out to me so far this season. With the departure of the 2024 leading goal scorer, forward Richard Morel, Marist looks for new potency up front; they may have found that in Iannello. Whether it be through making timely runs or sharp passing and finishing, he is proving to be a difference maker. This season, he has found the back of the net twice and created two assists for teammates. Graduate student defender Liam Evans has been a real steadying force for Marist and has made some important plays on the back line this year. His defense has been noteworthy, whether it be breaking up passes or making timely tackles.
Jonny Martirano, Contributor: Graduate student goalkeeper Jamie Lowell has been impressive in net for the Red Foxes. Starting all six games, Lowell has been the backbone of the squad so far this season, already accumulating three shutouts, which ties his total of three last year. His three shutouts are also atop the MAAC. With only four goals against, he has 0.852 SV%, which is second among goalkeepers in the MAAC. On the offensive side, Iannello has been a key factor for the Red Fox attack. His impact on the field has already been shown in his first five games, and his two goals are game-winners against UAlbany and Lehigh. As a freshman, Iannelo has also racked up two assists and started all six games. The winger looks to be a mainstay for Marist for the foreseeable future.
Sabbas Jelia, Contributor: Among the veterans, Lowell has been most impressive. The steady presence and big saves he produced in tight road matches, like the clean sheet at Stony Brook, set the tone for the back line this season. A goalkeeper who stands out like a leader is what the Red Foxes need, and have. Marques has also impressed in the beginning of the season, scoring the game-winning goal of the season opener against Stony Brook and adding an assist vs Fordham.
Marist is undefeated on the road this season, with wins over Stony Brook, Fordham and Albany. What do you attribute their road success to?
Ryan Eichem: They’ve had more shots in every game so far (Fordham outshot Marist 21-19, but Marist had more on target), as well as more corners. The Red Foxes dictated play against Stony Brook, not letting them find the net and holding the ball strongly. Against Fordham, Marist scored the first three goals of the game and added another once the Rams pushed for an equalizer. Finally, against Albany, Marist had a majority of the chances and broke down the Great Danes’ defense better than anyone has so far. They put up more shots and more corners than any other opponent Albany had faced. It is no shock that Marist continues to win games on the road when they are consistently dominating play by taking more shots and generating more set pieces.
Chris Dodway: This Marist team retained eight starters from last season, and the cohesion is evident. This is a group that likes playing with each other, and even the new additions have looked like a perfect fit. Marist has been able to make good on the possession they have had and the opportunities they’ve created. It may seem obvious, but when you generate more looks, you score more goals. On the back end, the team has been sharp. The veterans in defense, Lowell and Evans, have led Marist through their early tests, keeping three clean sheets and conceding four goals in six games. The Red Foxes have proven to be a second-half team this season as well, scoring five goals after the restart. This late success has decided several games so far, with late winners against Stony Brook and Albany.
Jonny Martirano: Marist has been great at bringing a full team effort each game; in all facets of the game, they have been working as a team to win the games. In their own end, the defense and goalkeeping have been second to none. The Red Foxes have only allowed four goals against, which is first in the MAAC. On the attack, Marist has spread the wealth and generated shots. The squad roster includes eight different players who have registered a point, and has the most team assists with 10. They also have outshot their opponents 69-55 on the road, including 27-19 on goal. The Red Foxes’ relentlessness to win is also something to note. In their three wins, all game-winning goals have come in the 77th, 86th and 79th minutes of the match. In general, they have clicked and generated plays to give themselves the best chance to win.
Sabbas Jelia: With Marist being 3-0 on the road this season, I attribute their success to their mix of defensive discipline, balanced scoring and resilience under pressure. Lowell has anchored the back line with key saves, prompting the defense to excel. The Red Foxes turning their set pieces into goal-scoring opportunities is also a vital component, all while showing composure, equalising quickly after conceding and finishing games strongly.
Which teams in the MAAC stick out so far as contenders to win the conference tournament?
Ryan Eichem: Fairfield has looked really good this season, but it is hard to ignore last year’s finalists: Iona and Rider. Marist currently tops the MAAC at 3-0-1, but the other schools mentioned have had harder non-conference schedules. Iona and Rider lost a lot of players to the transfer portal, meaning many key pieces have been lost and need to be refilled in the offseason. The MAAC is the type of conference that can bring chaos come playoff time, especially with this season being the first to have a new playoff format. It all depends on the final seeding, but if Marist can get a favorable seed, they can absolutely go and win it. They will need to get through a very strong Iona side, but if that matchup can wait until the final, then either team could take the title.
Chris Dodway: This conference runs through last year’s finalists in Iona and Rider. Both teams have appeared in the last two finals, splitting them one a piece. Rider has struggled to start the season with a 1-5-1 record, but it’s too early to write them off. As for Iona, they have yet to look like world beaters, but they sit at 2-1-2 with one match remaining going into conference play. Another top threat is certainly Fairfield, after a strong start to their season; they join Marist as the only MAAC teams with three wins already. The Fairfield squad faces an early test, taking on the reigning NCAA champs in Vermont on Sept. 20. If they look solid in that outing, they will certainly assert themselves as big threats in the MAAC.
Jonny Martirano: To start, Iona is the biggest threat in the MAAC. The Gaels have a solid 2-1-2 record so far and won the MAAC last season. Fairfield is also a prime contender this season with a 3-2-1 record, second behind Marist. The Stags have had strong play in net this season, as freshman Evan Chomow has two shutouts and a .839 save percentage, good for third in the MAAC. A sleeper team would definitely be Saint. Peter’s. The Peacocks sit at 2-3-1, but have two MAAC stars. On offense, senior forward Tim Strele leads the MAAC with six goals in as many games, including a four-goal showcase against George Washington. In goal, sophomore Moritz Conrad is atop the MAAC with a .444 goals against average and .933 save percentage, while adding two shutouts.
Sabbas Jelia: In the MAAC, Iona remains the top contender after last year’s season. Marist has emerged as a strong challenger with a fast start in non-conference games, although Quinnipiac, Siena or Fairfield could surprise. The top two contenders that seem to stick out to win the MAAC at this point look like Iona and Marist.
Predict how Marist will finish down the stretch this season and whether or not they will make it into the MAAC/NCAA tournament.
Ryan Eichem: Marist has one of the easier MAAC schedules, not playing Iona and taking on Rider, Fairfield and Manhattan at home. There are 10 MAAC games this season, up from eight last year. That changes things dramatically, as you get a longer conference season and more looks at different teams. I firmly believe the Red Foxes can win a majority of their first six conference games (Quinnipiac, Mount St. Mary’s, Fairfield, at Niagara, Sacred Heart and Merrimack). Three of those teams did not make the playoffs in 2024, and of the three that did, Marist either beat (Quinnipiac) or finished higher than (Sacred Heart and Mount St. Mary’s). It would not be surprising at all to see Marist drop points in three or fewer games, meaning seven or more wins and a very strong case for the top-seed.
If Iona or Marist can earn the one-seed and host the semis and championship, I firmly believe either of them is the favorite to win and make the NCAA Tournament.
Chris Dodway: While the field has its threats, Marist looks primed for a playoff run this season. They have had very little roster turnover from last season, in which they made a strong semi-finals appearance, losing to the eventual champions. Now, with some influx of young talent and a consistent core, they have a real opportunity. This season, they are looking at a somewhat favorable schedule in what could end up being a race for seeding. If Marist is jockeying for a bye, avoiding an Iona matchup is an advantage they hold. These first few weeks against MAAC competition will be very telling. If Marist can build on its hot start and find a way to secure home-field advantage, it could make waves this year.
Jonny Martirano: With a 4-0-2 record, Marist is off to a hot start before they enter play against MAAC opponents. After a 0-0 tie in the second game against Army, where Marist should have won, they responded with two strong wins against Fordham and Albany. Against Fordham, the Red Foxes won 4-2 against a team that made it to the NCAA Tournament last season. Looking at the MAAC schedule, Marist benefits from not having a match with the 2024 MAAC Champions, Iona. They also have four of their five home games against MAAC opponents who made the MAAC Championships last year in Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Rider and Manhattan. Playing at Tenney Stadium is huge for this team, and the home-field advantage could be a main factor in those games. If Marist can stick to what is working so far this season, they have a strong shot at winning the MAAC for the first time since 2021.
Sabbas Jelia – Marist has started strong with a 4-0-2 record, showing increased defensive stability and spreading out scoring after losing top striker Richard Morel. Going forward into the decisive conference games coming up against Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Niagara, Mount St. Mary’s, Merrimack and SHU, the Red Foxes need to step up and produce goals. The backline also needs to stay strong, as any MAAC team could get a result on any given day. Down the stretch, Marist could likely open up with a home semi-final and final game if they keep playing like this.
Edited by Ryan Eichem and Ben Leeds
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo
Photo by Carlisle Stockton
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