SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The No. 23 American International College men's soccer team is Northeast-10 Conference Championship Game bound following a thrilling 1-0 victory in the conference's Semifinal round against The College of Saint Rose on Wednesday, November 10.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: No. 23 AIC 1, Saint Rose 0
Records: The Yellow Jackets rise to 14-3-1 overall, while the Golden Knights drop to 10-6-2
Location: Ronald J. Abdow Field, Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
Saint Rose:
Tomas Rozman: Loss (8-2-2), one save

No. 23 AIC:
Salim Yussif: One goal
Frans Dao: One assist
Ioannis Iatroudis: Win (1-0-0), shutout (1), seven saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams were defensive minded in the early going, and although the Golden Knights did have the game's first two shots on target, senior Ioannis Iatroudis did not have to expend much effort to stop them.
• AIC generated a few quality looks but were off target, particularly freshman Salim Yussif, who had near misses in the 13th and 19th minutes.
• The best bid at the goal for the Golden Knights came in the 36th minute, as Hilmar Halldorsson took a shot from the left side, but Iatroudis held his line and made the stop.
• AIC nearly scored to end the half, as an opportunity by rookie Joseph Albano was blocked at the goal line by a defender, sending the teams to the break even at 0-0.
• Both teams had looks at the goal early in the second half, with Iatroudis making saves on two chances in the first 11 minutes and freshman Lukas Kukavica being denied by Rozman in the 58th minute.
• Finally, in the 66th minute, AIC broke through. Sophomore Frans Dao dribbled brilliantly away from a defender just to the left of the 18-yard box and served in a perfect ball. At the net mouth, Yussif rose into the air and headed home his sixth of the season at 65:31.
• Both teams nearly scored in the next three minutes as Lucas Malmquist missed a chance for the Golden Knights and then graduate student Gael Martin narrowly fired high for AIC.
• The Golden Knights played with increasing aggression to try to find the equalizer, and were stifled by the AIC defense until the 88th minute, when they were able to draw a foul in the box and earned a penalty.
• Victor Henriksen stepped up to strike the ball from the spot, but Iatroudis was able to get in front of it, keeping AIC in front, and the Yellow Jackets were able to run the clock out from there, earning a 1-0 win.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER:

• The game marked AIC's third appearance in the NE10 Semifinal in three complete seasons, following trips in 2018 and 2019.
• AIC had lost heartbreakingly in both previous endeavors, falling 2-1 at Merrimack in 2018 and 3-2 at Assumption in 2019.
• The trip to the NE10 title game is the first in program history.
• The win also extends the program record for victories in a season, as it is the team's 14th.

QUOTABLE:

• Of the winning goal, Yussif simply said "I'm excited to have made history for myself and for the team for making it to the NE10 Final."
• Dao noted "We controlled the game from the start. Happy to make history with this team. Always in control!"
• Iatroudis, who made his first start of the season in the shutout victory, said "Hard work pays off. We have worked very hard all season to get to this point. We are happy but still hungry."
• Head Coach Luke Perry noted "The team were brilliant tonight. I'm very proud of their performance and happy for them to get the result, making history as we head to the Final!"

NEXT UP:

• AIC and top-seeded Franklin Pierce meet again for the second time in two weeks, with the NE10 Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament auto-qualifier on the line on Saturday, November 13 at 6:00 p.m.