FAIRFIELD, CT— The Iona University women's soccer team fell to Fairfield, 7-1 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contest on Saturday night. The Stags took command of the game with a six-goal opening stanza to take the league matchup at Lessing Field.
Senior
Myla Rodrigues scored her first goal of the season and the third goal of her career in the 24
th minute on a header off the assist from sophomore
Marissa Graziano. The first half assist was Graziano's second assist of the season. Freshman
Kayla Kalbaugh registered a career high seven saves in the second half for the Maroon & Gold.
GAME SUMMARY
The Stags got off to a strong start under the lights with sustained pressure in the Iona zone. Elle Scott broke open the scoring in the sixth minute on a long through ball from Reagan Klarmann for the opening tally. Fairfield continued to attack with goals in the 14
th and 18
th minute to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
The Gaels started to get momentum going in the Fairfield end in the 24
th minute, drawing a free kick from just inside midfield. Graziano booted the long ball into the box right to Rodrigues for the header from four yards to the left post past the diving reach of Lindsay Dewar to get the Gaels on the scoreboard.
The Stags responded with goals in the 30
th, 35
th and 40
th minute to take a five-goal lead into the halftime break.
With the Gaels splitting goalkeeping duties on Saturday night, sophomore
Savannah Rogers made four saves in the first half. Kalbaugh was tested early, making a save two minutes into the second half.
Fairfield picked up the final goal in the 53
rd minute on a back post cross from Scott to Allie Kirby for the header. Iona had two looks on goal in the second half as sophomore
Victoria Ryan's shot missed just right of the goal in the 70
th minute and sophomore
Kelsey Landers shot got knocked down by Stags goalkeeper Alyssa Gluting. Kalbaugh made six saves in the final 37 minutes for the Gaels.
TEAM STATS
- Fairfield held a 34-3 advantage including a 18-2 margin for shots on goal.
- Iona's goalkeeping corps recorded a season-high 11 saves. Rogers stopped four shots and Kalbaugh made a career-high seven saves in the second half.
- The Stags attempted 18 corner kicks while Iona attempted just one corner kick.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to Mazzella Field to begin a three-game homestand. First up is a matchup on Saturday, September 21 at noon against Merrimack.