Iona is ranked 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Division I poll and is ranked No, 1 in the North Atlantic Region.
Photo credit: Courtesy ICGaels.com

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The Iona College men’s soccer team was greeted with exciting news when it stepped off the field after practice Tuesday. The Gaels were ranked No. 1 in the North Atlantic Region and later learned they were ranked 22nd in the country, according to the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America's National and Regional College Rankings.

 “It’s a pretty good accomplishment,” said senior tri-captain Adam Rohan of the two rankings. “We are hoping to stay at the top of the regional ranking for the remainder of the year."

 The Gaels were last ranked nationally in Oct., 2009, when they reached No. 22. Iona received the rankings based on its 4-0 start. The Gaels opened with wins over Hofstra (2-0) and New Hampshire (2-1), then won the Puma Lafayette Classic, defeating LaSalle (3-1) and overcoming Mount St. Mary’s, 4-3, in overtime.

Rohan, a graduate of Haldane High School in Putnam County, said the Gaels came into preseason with a renewed hunger. Iona advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals in 2008 and ‘09, and last year reached the final. Rohan said the team lost a “heartbreaker” to St. Peter’s of Jersey City (N.J.)

“We felt pretty good coming into the season because we had a lot of big-time returning players and coach did a good job of recruiting, giving us the highest talent level we’ve had in the last four years,” Rohan said. “We set a goal that we want to make it back to the MAAC final. Every year we’ve been getting better and we want to take it to the next level.”

Rohan said a major factor in the team’s fast start has been its’ balance. “Everyone is contributing and we are getting goals from a number of different guys,” Rohan said. “We are sharing the ball very well.”

Iona has reaped the MAAC awards to date. Forward Ignacio Maganto and goalie Borja Barbero were selected as MAAC Rookies of the Week and senior tri-captain Alvaro Torrecilla was named the recent MAAC offensive player of the week.

“We feel there is something special about this team,” Rohan said. “Hopefully, we can win the MAAC championship and make it to the NCAA tournament.”