PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team remained unbeaten through six matches on Tuesday night, earning a 1-0 victory over Iona on Sweeney Field.
The Hawks (3-0-3) controlled much of the play offensively, finishing with a 14-9 advantage in shots and putting five attempts on target. Saint Joseph's also held a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Saint Joseph's generated the first sustained pressure of the night, earning three corner kicks in the opening 11 minutes. Sean Boyle nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but his attempt was blocked.
- Sebastian Perez-Gasiba tested Iona goalkeeper Adriano Sofio in the 24th minute, forcing a save on a shot from inside the box.
- The Hawks broke through shortly after halftime. In the 51st minute, Jake Ross blasted a volley across goal and found the back of the net after the chance was created by Conor Clair and Mason Csapo to give Saint Joseph's a 1-0 lead.
- Saint Joseph's continued to threaten after taking the lead. Clair forced another save in the 58th minute, while Mason Csapo had attempts blocked and wide in the 65th and 67th minutes, respectively.
- Perez-Gasiba nearly doubled the advantage in the 76th minute, putting a shot on target that was saved by Sofio. Marko Marić and Herman Reffsgaard also registered chances during the final 15 minutes.
- Iona pushed forward late, earning consecutive corner kicks in the 89th minute, but the Saint Joseph's defense held firm to preserve its third shutout of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jake Ross scored his first collegiate goal in the win, as all six of Saint Joseph's goalscorers this season have scored the first goals of their collegiate careers.
- Conor Clair and Mason Csapo each recorded their first assist of the season.
- Sebastian Perez-Gasiba recorded a team-high three shots and two shots on target.
- Sean Boyle made his season debut, playing 78 minutes at center back to help the Hawks earn a clean sheet.
- Alex Smith made one save to record his fourth clean sheet of the season. The Hawks have allowed just two goals through their first six matches. Smith's four clean sheets are the second-most by a freshman in program history, trailing only Sean Vliet, who recorded five in 1992.
- Saint Joseph's seven-game unbeaten streak dating back to last season is tied for the eighth-longest active unbeaten streak in the country.
- Saint Joseph's improved to 3-2-0 all-time against Iona.
- The Hawks are unbeaten through their first six matches for the first time since 1971. Saint Joseph's has allowed just two goals through six matches, the second-fewest in program history through six games, trailing only the 1971 team, which allowed one.
- Saint Joseph's six-match unbeaten streak is its longest since 2021.
- The Hawks are now 8-1-2 at home in two seasons under Coach Mulqueen.
UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's concludes its three-game homestand Saturday, Sept. 19 against George Mason. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
