MIAMI, FLORIDA — Iona extended its winning streak to two matches with a 3-1 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, dominating the second half after a tightly contested opening 45 minutes. The Gaels (7-3-5) controlled possession and created consistent scoring opportunities throughout, while the Mountaineers (3-8-5) struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure despite early defensive resilience.
Chris Morandi opened the scoring for Iona in the 39th minute, giving the hosts a 1-0 halftime advantage. Mount St. Mary's equalized through Luciano Schiaffini at the 39th minute, assisted by Jack Kehoe, forcing the teams into the break level at 1-1. The first half featured limited clear-cut chances, with both goalkeepers making routine saves as defenses remained organized.
Iona's second-half adjustments proved decisive. Enbiya Bolur restored the hosts' lead in the 57th minute, assisted by Chris Morandi and Matias Mancheno, capitalizing on Mount St. Mary's defensive lapses. Alvaro Maneiro sealed the victory from the penalty spot in the 60th minute after Mount St. Mary's committed a handball infraction, extending Iona's advantage to 3-1.
The Gaels dominated the statistical categories, outshooting Mount St. Mary's 18-6 overall and 6-3 on target. Iona also earned six corner kicks compared to three for the visitors, reflecting their territorial superiority. Mount St. Mary's accumulated five yellow cards