JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Iona College women's soccer team came back from a two-goal deficit to steal a win at Saint Peter's on Friday afternoon.
Nicole Whitley scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation and
Kiera Haggerty's golden goal lifted the Maroon & Gold to their first win of the season.
MATCH SUMMARY
The first half was one to forget for the Maroon & Gold. The Gaels have been snake bitten by early goals in matches this season, and this one began with a seventh minute strike from Jessica Auvil that gave Saint Peter's a 1-0 lead.
Iona's best chance in the early going was an
Emily Drake shot that rang off of the post. It led to a corner kick opportunity for the Gaels, but amounted to nothing. Drake tried her luck in the 21st minute, but her shot missed high. Freshman
Victoria Mule was set up nicely just outside the box minutes later, but her shot found the gloves of the Peacocks' keeper, Victoria Scarratt.
Then, with just under 15 minutes to play in the first half, Saint Peter's struck again. Fatou Doucoure curled one into the upper part of the net over
Emma Havrilla's outstretched hands. An unlucky bounce for the Gaels put the ball on the feet of Doucoure and she stretched the Saint Peter's lead to two goals.
The Gaels mustered just one more shot across the final 10+ minutes of the first half, heading into the locker room trailing by two.
Angelina DeCicco started in net for the Gaels to begin the second half and immediately faced a barrage of shots from the opposition. The senior held her own though, stopping a few prime chances that may have put the contest completely out of reach.
The tide turned for Iona in the 80th minute when the Gaels were awarded a penalty kick. Whitley stepped up for the Maroon & Gold, scoring the penalty and cutting the deficit in half with 10 minutes and change to play in Jersey City. Whitley was once again the beneficiary of a Saint Peter's foul, this time with 13 seconds remaining on the clock.
The foul, a few yards outside the box and towards the sideline, set up the Gaels with a free kick with the clock stopped with just 13 ticks left. Whitley blasted one with her right foot that found twine just under the crossbar, leveling the match in the final seconds of regulation.
Haggerty, who had a multitude of chances in regulation, finally had her moment in the first overtime period. The sophomore from Whitestone, New York scored the golden goal to complete the comeback and give Iona its first win of the season. Haggerty curled the goal in off of a corner, sending the Gaels bench flooding out onto the pitch to celebrate with their team.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- The comeback win marks the second time in as many seasons that the Gaels have come back from down two goals to win. Iona defeated St. Francis Brooklyn 3-2 last season at Mazzella Field on the strength of three unanswered goals.
- Whitley's two goals were her second and third tallies of the season. She currently leads the team in goals and points.
- Haggerty's goal was her first of the season and Iona's first this year not scored by Whitley.
- Iona entered the match having been outscored by its opponents 12-1 and outshot 61-31. The Gaels owned a 15-10 advantage over the Peacocks in the shot department today.
- Haggerty finished with a match-high five shots and her three shots on goal were tied for the most in the match.
- DeCicco, who started the second half, made five saves and did not allow a goal in 49 minutes of action between the pipes.
UP NEXT
Iona hosts Manhattan on Tuesday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. on Mazzella Field in the regular season finale.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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