NEW ROCHELLE, NY— The Iona University women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Sacred Heart on Wednesday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Pioneers scored the game's lone goal in the 56^th minute to take the conference tilt over the Gaels at Mazzella Field.
 
First year goalkeeper Kayla Kalbaugh tied her career-high with seven saves in goal for Iona. Freshman Dolene Smith led the Gaels with six shot attempts for the contest.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels looked to start the game strong after a 10-day break with the bye week generating an early chance in the sixth minute of play. After a few attempts got thwarted by the Sacred Heart defense, a handball was called by the referee prompting a penalty kick chance. Sophomore Marissa Graziano looked to get Iona on the scoreboard early, but Kyran Thievon made a diving stop to deny the penalty kick goal. The Pioneers looked to get going offensively a few minutes later with several chances in the Iona zone. Kalbaugh made two saves to keep the game tied up.

Iona had one more look in the 26^th minute as a through ball went out to senior Kedarjah Lewis to dribble past the Pioneers defense. Lewis fired a shot from 10-yards out, but Thievon made a charging stop to deny the scoring chance. The Gaels held a 6-5 advantage on shots in the tightly contested opening half.
 
Out of the intermission, Iona fired four shots in the first six minutes of action but missed just offline.
 
A clearance attempt by the Gaels defense landed right at the feet of Sacred Heart's Martyna Krysztopik just inside midfield in the Iona zone. Krysztopik sent a through ball down the left side to Shea Kelleher just inside the box. She one-timed the shot over the reach of Kalbaugh into the back right corner of the goal for the 1-0 lead.
 
Momentum shifted to the Pioneers favor from there quickly regaining momentum back in the Iona end with Kalbaugh making another save for the Gaels.

Iona had two chances as the game clock winded down with a shot from just outside the box from sophomore Lauren Sonski got denied by Thievon in the 74^th minute. Smith fired the final shot for the Gaels in the 75^th minute but the shot missed just left of the post. Kalbaugh made her seventh and final save of the game in the 87^th minute as Sacred Heart continued to hold possession to take the victory.

TEAM STATS

• Both teams were near even on shots for the game with Sacred Heart holding a slight 13-12 edge. The Pioneers did however hold an 8-4 advantage for shots on goal in the contest.
• Iona got seven saves from Kalbaugh and Thievon made four saves for Sacred Heart.
• Only seven corner kicks were attempted by both teams with a 4-3 favor for the Pioneers on attempts.

UP NEXT

The Gaels return to action on Saturday, October 5 with an 11:00 a.m. contest against league leading, Canisius. It will be the first game of a soccer doubleheader at Mazzella Field with the men's game following at 2:00 p.m. against Fairfield.