BALTIMORE, M.D. – The #1 seeded Saint Peter’s College Peacocks (13-5-1) claimed its second MAAC Men’s Soccer Championship in program history with a 2-1 victory over the #3 seeded Iona College Gaels in the championship match of the 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Soccer Championship.
The Peacocks opened the scoring at the 25:27 mark when Lebo Pila converted a penalty kick after Iona’s Marcellin Biali was given a red card for using his hand in the box to stop a shot which would have been a goal. The Peacocks played a man-up the rest of the match that went into the break with the Peacocks holding a 1-0 lead. The Peacocks outshot the Gaels 15-2 in the opening half.
Mauricio Jimenez scored the eventual game winner at the 59:27 mark as he got behind the defense off a pass from Pila and beat the keeper for a 2-0 lead. Iona did not go quietly as Julian Grajeles scored off a throw-in at 66:16 to cut the Peacocks lead to 2-1. The Gaels had some scoring chances down the stretch, including an apparent goal that was called back on an off sides, but Saint Peter’s held their ground and took the MAAC Championship with a 2-1 win.
Pila was named the MAAC Championship’s Most Valuable Player and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Assaf Sheleg, Braulio Constantino and Carlos Suarez.
Saint Peter’s outshot Iona 23-6. The Gaels had four corners to the Peacocks three. Michael Jordan made six saves for Iona, while Suarez made two saves for the Peacocks.
This is the second MAAC Championship in men’s soccer program history and will be the third NCAA Tournament appearance. The last NCAA appearance for the men’s team came in 2007, after being selected through an at-large bid. This is the fifth time in program history that the Peacocks have won 13 games in a season and the first time since 2007. Guy Abrahamson is just the third coach in the history of Saint Peter’s College Athletics to take two teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Peacocks senior class is now 37-31-4 in their careers and will now advance to their second NCAA Tournament.
