JERSEY CITY, NJ - The top-seeded Saint Peter's University men's soccer team held a two-goal lead late in the second half, but third-seeded Iona College scored twice in the final 15 minutes to tie it and then won the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Soccer Championship match with a golden goal late in the first overtime session to give the Gaels their first ever league title.
The Peacocks, who captured the program's first regular season title since 2010, wrapped up an incredible season that will go down as one of the greatest in school history with 13 victories, the most since going 13-6-1 in 2013. Both junior midfielder
Jordan Jowers and junior forward
Dominic Laws scored for the home side and were named to the all-tournament team alongside classmate
Tom Coulson.
Game Notes
- Similar to the first time the two sides faced off earlier this season, neither side was able to score in the opening half, as the first 45 minutes of play featured a few strong saves by both netminders to keep it a scoreless affair heading into the second stanza.
- It didn't take long for things to pick up in the second half though, and less than five minutes in, Jowers put up the first tally of the day by either side after beating the Iona goalkeeper in a one-on-one battle in the 50th minute.
- Laws followed it up with a score of his own in the 58th minute, finding the back of the net off an assist from junior defender Philip Smith after a scramble in the goal mouth to put the Peacocks up by a 2-0 margin.
- The Gaels did not relent and were able to notch two goals late in the game to bring the game even with the equalizer coming off a header from Josh Plimpton.
- Just as it seemed that the game would need a second overtime session, Iona's Mauro Bravo would put in the golden goal for the Gaels in the 100th minute off a free kick to hand Iona the tournament title.
Inside the Numbers
- The loss marked the first for the Peacocks since their Oct. 2 overtime defeat to Quinnipiac, ending a school-record 10-game unbeaten streak.
- Additionally, the Peacocks never lost a conference match in regulation this season, with both MAAC losses, including today's final, coming in extra minutes.
- The match also marked the first loss at home on the season, as Saint Peter's entered the game at 7-0 when playing at Jaroschak Field this year.
- Jowers and Laws end their junior seasons on high notes, having carried an impressive standard for the team all year. With each of their scores today, Laws finished the year with 12 while Jowers finished with nine, which are the two best marks on the squad.
- With Smith's assist, he finished the year with the second-most points among Peacock defenders with five.
MAAC All-Tournament Team
- Three Peacocks were named to the 2019 MAAC Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team: Tom Coulson, Jordan Jowers, and Dominic Laws.
- Coulson experienced an incredibly productive junior year from midfield, notching five goals and two assists while also knocking in a game-winner against Iona on Oct. 19.
- Jowers, who was also a unanimous selection to the All-MAAC First Team, experienced an impressive surge in the latter part of this season. The Middlesbrough native finished the year with nine goals and six assists, while recording either a goal or an assist in each of the past six matches.
- Laws, the only other unanimous All-MAAC First Team selection, also joins his peers on the All-Tournament Team. The 2019 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Laws paced the entire league in offensive statistics this year, finishing 2019 with 12 goals and seven assists for an eye-popping 31 points. Laws is the first Peacock to earn the honor since Murphy Wiredu brought the title to Jersey City in 2007.
Coach's Quotes - Julian Richens
- "I would like to thank the fans and the entire athletic department for helping us create a great environment in hosting a MAAC semifinal and final here at Saint Peter's."
- "Congratulations to Iona, we wish them the best as they enter the tournament."
- "Our players and entire team have had a fantastic season. As disappointed as they are and will be, when they reflect back they will realize their achievements this season. Hosting a MAAC Final, winning the regular season championship, the highest points total ever from any team, nine All-Conference awards and 15 MAAC All-Academic awards with a team average of 3.5 GPA. They are the epitome of elite student-athletes.
- "The exciting late wins, the amount of goals, the individual performances are all the result of hard work and incredible team spirit. The game ending today will only encourage them to continue to push further over the next 12 months. I am very proud to be the head coach of this team."
