NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University women's soccer team earned its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Mount St. Mary's at Mazzella Field on Saturday.
Samantha Hogan's 86th minute tally proved to be the game-winning goal.
MATCH SUMMARY
After a disappointing start to the conference slate last Saturday, Iona rebounded in a big way today. In the first-ever meeting between the two sides as conference opponents, the Gaels came away with the first blow in the 20th minute. Sofia Banegas let a right-footed shot go that hit the inside of the post and bounced into the net. Katie Bulich and Hogan had the assists on Banegas' second goal of her sophomore campaign.
Seven minutes after Iona secured the opening marker, the Mountaineers thought they had an equalizer but the goal was waved off due to offsides. The Mount found a true equalizer in the 39th minute when Amani Green converted on a corner kick off a pass from Kalli Bell.
The score held heading into the halftime break and well into the second half. Late in the second stanza, Iona had what would've been a go-ahead goal called offsides, just as the Mountaineers did in the first half. After that deflating moment, Madison Lennon had a would-be goal saved on the goal line by a Mount defender, once again keeping the score tied at 1-1.
Despite that, the Maroon & Gold continued to push and the persistence paid off when Hogan flared a shot that bent around the outstretched arms of Drew Camp in net. The 86th minute strike was the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory for Iona, its first in conference play in the 2022 season.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Hogan's game-winning goal was her second of the season and the fifth game winner of her collegiate career. She finished the day with three points, her second three-point effort of her senior season.
- Banegas' goal was her second of the season and opened the scoring on Saturday afternoon.
- Bulich, who assisted on Iona's opening goal, notched the first point of her collegiate career.
- Haggerty had an assist on Hogan's game winner, the first point of the season for the Whitestone, New York native. Giamanco had the other assist on Hogan's game winner, combining with her other senior classmates to make an impact late for the Maroon & Gold.
- Havrilla faced 15 shots and made five saves to improve to 6-2-2 on the season. She has now matched Trista Rivera (2010-13) for the most goalkeeper wins (21) in program history.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Niagara 3 - Manhattan 0
- Quinnipiac 1 - Canisius 0
- Rider hosts Saint Peter's in an in-state matchup at 7:00 p.m.
- Fairfield welcomes Marist to Connecticut for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
UP NEXT
The Gaels hit the road for the first of three straight away from home, beginning that stretch with a trip to Marist on October 1. The Gaels and the Red Foxes are set to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. at Tenney Stadium.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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