The COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2019-20 athletics campaign as the MAAC and NCAA canceled spring sports championships in early March. The Maroon & Gold saw tremendous success in the championships it did compete in, however, evidenced by three program titles, a second place standing in the overall MAAC Commissioner’s Cup, and a championship win for the MAAC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup.
The success kicked off in traditional fashion for Iona Athletics as men’s and women’s cross country continued their dominance of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. On November 2, 2019, the
men’s cross country team won its 29th straight MAAC Championship, extending the nation’s longest conference title run. The Gaels have won 34 of the 39 events held since the inception of the league in 1981. On the same day, the women’s squad earned its fourth straight crown and have won 14 of the last 15 championships held since 2005.
After more than a decade of knocking at the door, qualifying and competing in the four- or six-team conference tournament year after year, the men’s soccer program broke through with its first ever MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019. After upending top-seeded Saint Peter’s on the road in the title game, the Gaels took on the defending national champion Maryland Terrapins in College Park.
The three championship victories propelled Iona to success in the MAAC Commissioner’s Cup. The Maroon & Gold finished second to Rider in the overall standings by just a half point. Iona’s 33 points in the men’s standings were the most among its league counterparts. It was the College’s fifth men’s cup win since the inception of the award. The last one came in 2011, in a year Iona was also co-overall champion.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.