LEWISTON, NY— The Iona University women's soccer team earned a point on the road after playing to a 0-0 tie at Niagara on Wednesday afternoon. In a closely contested Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matchup, the Purple Eagles held a 7-4 advantage for shots on goal at Niagara Field.

Rookie goalkeeper Kayla Kalbaugh made seven saves in goal for the Maroon & Gold. Sophomore Payton Foster and freshman Dolene Smith led the Gaels with three shot attempts.

GAME SUMMARY

The Gaels looked to get going in the Niagara zone early with a corner kick chance just a minute and a half into the contest. But the attempt was knocked down by the Purple Eagles goalkeeper Maddie Crosbie.

Action slowed down from there as teams adjusted to the rain and wind sweeping through Niagara Field. The Purple Eagles fired home the first shot of the contest in the 17^th minute as Kalbaugh made the save towards the left post. Iona's first chance on goal came on a left footed strike from graduate student Kare McNally from 25-yards out that was denied in the 21^st minute. Smith followed that up with another long strike 30 seconds later.
 
As the sun began to peak through the clouds, the Maroon & Gold had one more scoring chance in the attacking third as Smith rifled a wide-open shot from 18-yards out that missed just wide of the left post in the 39^th minute. Kalbaugh made two more saves to close the first half for the Gaels.
 
The slow start out of the halftime break with the Purple Eagles getting the first chance on goal 10 minutes into the restart as a laser of a shot from 18-yards was punched away by Kalbaugh.
 
Iona finally got going with a developing play as graduate student Kate McNally sprinted towards the endline on the left side and lifted a cross to senior Kedarjah Lewis on the far post but just narrowly missed the clean connection in the 65^th minute.
 
The Gaels continued to push the ball into the attacking third in the 73^rd minute with a pair of shot attempts getting blocked by the Niagara back line. Iona then had a breakaway chance in the 75^th minute as the shot from the left side just inside the box by sophomore Lauren Sonski was saved by Crosbie.
 
Kalbaugh made the final save of the contest in the 86^th minute to keep the game scoreless and earn her first career shutout as both teams walked away with the point.

TEAM STATS

• For the game Niagara led on shot attempts 15-10 including a 7-4 margin for shots on goal.
• The Gaels recorded seven saves in goal courtesy of Kalbaugh while Crosbie made four stops for the Purple Eagles.
• Niagara held the slight advantage on corner kicks over Iona, 3-2.

UP NEXT

The Gaels return to Mazzella Field on Saturday, October 12 for a noon contest against Saint Peter's.