JERSEY CITY, NJ — Led by the first career hat trick from sophomore
Dolene Smith, the Iona University women's soccer team earned a 4-0 road victory at Saint Peter's on Wednesday evening. The Maroon & Gold earned the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win of the season with a shutout performance over the Peacocks at Jaroschak Field.
Smith tallied two first half goals before capping the scoring in the final minute to increase her season total to five goals. It was the third hat trick by a MAAC player this season and the second in league play. Junior
Camille Daniel also tallied her first collegiate goal in the second half. Rookie
Mya Jackson recorded the first multi-assist game of her career.
It was a combined shutout effort in goal for the Maroon & Gold as sophomore
Kayla Kalbaugh made two first half saves, and junior
Savannah Rogers registered five stops to preserve the shutout.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona was in control of the tempo for majority of the opening half outshooting Saint Peter's 6-4 through the first 30 minutes of action. Kalbaugh made two big stops in the 28
th minute and early in the 41
st minute.
The Gaels caught a break in the tail end of the 41
st minute with a free kick near midfield. That set up junior
Marissa Graziano for a booming kick that bounced just inside the 18-yard box. Smith was there to collect the rebound and fired a one-timer just under the crossbar past the diving reach of Bergljot Kristinsdottir.
Momentum continued in the 45
th minute as Jackson led a breakaway down the right side. She fired a long cross into the dead center of the box and Smith was there to bury the shot for the 2-0 advantage.
Saint Peter's looked to get on the scoreboard out of the halftime break, but Rogers was there to make three saves in the first 13 minutes of second half action.
Iona looked to make a charge in the 66
th minute as a shot by senior
Zaheira Hegazi hit off the crossbar. The ball bounced 25-yards back to Daniel who fired a high kick that went bar down off the woodwork to bring the score to 3-0.
Rogers fended off a late charge by the Peacocks in the 89
th minute making back-to-back saves to hold the score. Jackson and Smith connected once again with 46 seconds left to secure the 4-0 victory and hat trick for the sophomore.
TEAM STATS
- Iona fired a season-high 18 shots to the Saint Peter's 10. The Gaels recorded a season-high eight shots on goal while the Peacocks tallied seven shots on goal.
- It was a season-high 11 corner kick attempts for Iona while Saint Peter's attempted six corners.
- 23 fouls were called in the contest with three yellows and a red card for the Peacocks.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to Mazzella Field on Saturday, October 4 for Senior Day against Niagara. Iona will honor its six seniors prior to the 1:00 p.m. kick-off.