NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University women's soccer team topped Lafayette 2-1 in the home opener at Mazzella Field on Thursday afternoon.
Faith Preziosi scored to tie the game and
Kedarjah Lewis tallied the game-winning score in the 82nd minute to help the Maroon & Gold remain unbeaten.
MATCH SUMMARY
The opening 30 minutes of the first half at Mazzella Field was a feeling out process for both sides, with Lafayette maintaining an edge in possession percentage early on. The Leopards nearly broke a scoreless tie when Ani Khachadourian ripped a shot that got past Emma Havrilla, but it came off the crossbar and out of harm's way.
Madison Lennon had a solid chance to get Iona on the board in the 36th minute on a free kick a few yards outside the 18, but her shot attempt sailed a little high and right of the cage. Minutes later, Lafayette scored when Anna Garcia blasted a left-footed shot that beat Havrilla. The Leopards carried a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, with Iona feeling fortunate that its deficit was just one goal.
The Gaels started much faster in the second half and took advantage of a substitution in goal at the half on the Lafayette side. The Maroon & Gold evened things up in the 62nd minute after Sam Hogan and Victoria Mule teamed up to set Preziosi with a wide-open look in the box that she buried.
Later on, it was Kedarjah Lewis that danced her way around the defense to free herself up for a right-footed shot that she sent towards net while turning around, catching the keeper off guard to put Iona in front. The 82nd-minute goal forced Lafayette into ultra-attack mode and it nearly led to the equalizer late. The Leopards did in fact find the back of the net, but it was called offside and the packed stands at Mazzella Field took a collective sigh of relief together. One last Lafayette push in the closing minute proved unsuccessful and the clock ran out, seeing the Gaels emerge victorious.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Preziosi's goal was her second in as many contests, moving her into a tie for second-most (19) in a career in Iona history.
- Lewis has now registered a goal in four straight matches and leads the team in both goals and points through five matches this year.
- Hogan notched her second assist of the season, having the primary helper on Preziosi's game-tying tally.
- Mule had the secondary assist on the game-tying goal, the first point of the junior defender's career.
- Havrilla earned her third win in net, stopping five shots to help the Gaels remain unbeaten and secure a win in the home opener.
- The Maroon & Gold secured a win in the home opener for the first time since 2018.
- The 3-0-2 start is Iona's best in the program's recorded history. The Gaels had never opened the season with a five-match unbeaten stretch this century and are winners in three of their first five contests for the first time since the 2014 campaign.
- Today's matchup between Iona and Lafayette is the first between the two programs since 2006, a 1-1 draw in Easton, Pennsylvania. The victory is just the second for the Gaels over the Leopards; the other came during the 2005 season.
UP NEXT
Iona heads to Wagner for a road matchup with the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and will stream live on NEC Front Row.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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