WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ –In its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Association home game of the season, the Monmouth University men defeated Iona, 3-2, Wednesday night.

Sophomore Geoff Schaefer scored a goal and added an assist for the Hawks (4-5-1, 1-1-0) against the Gaels (2-4-2, 1-2-0).

“It was a hard fought conference game tonight,” head coach Robert McCourt said. “I was happy with the energy we had in the first half. Iona is a good team. They showed some tremendous character and had a good second half. We are a young group and still learning valuable lessons as the season progresses. Conference games ae always difficult, so we are happy to come away with the three points.”

Redshirt freshman John Antunes opened the scoring in the 29th minute with his second goal of the season as freshman Dan Frisch-Harmon picked up his third assist. Junior Zachary Pereira gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead in the 44th minute on a header, as he gathered the assists from freshman Anes Mrkulic and Schaefer.

After Iona closed the gap to 2-1 in the 49th minute, Schaefer gave Monmouth the 3-1 cushion in the 57th minute with a header to the near post. Sophomore Andy Martinez picked up the assist on Schaefer’s goal.

Junior goalkeeper Bobby Edwards recorded his fourth win this season, making four saves.

The Hawks will continue conference play when they travel to Manhattan College Saturday at 6 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.