LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Iona University women's soccer team snapped a 15-game losing streak against Siena with a 1-0 victory over the Saints on Saturday afternoon at Hickey Field. Junior
Dolene Smith scored the game-winning goal in the 69th minute, while junior goalkeeper
Kayla Kalbaugh registered a career-high 10 saves to lead the Gaels to their first win over Siena since 2013 and first road victory against the Saints since 2000.
THE RUNDOWN
Siena applied pressure throughout the contest, holding a 24-6 advantage in total shots. Kalbaugh anchored the Iona defense with 10 saves as the Gaels kept the Saints off the scoreboard.
The breakthrough came in the 69th minute following an Iona corner kick. Graduate student
Zaheira Hegazi connected with Smith, who fired a shot into the top right corner for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
The Gaels held off Siena's offensive pressure over the final 21 minutes including the final 13 minutes down to 10 players after a red card to secure the 1-0 victory and snap a 15-match winless streak against the Saints.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Kalbaugh put on a defensive clinic in goal, turning away 10 shots to preserve the shutout, her fifth of the season.
- Smith provided the game's lone offensive spark in the 69th minute, burying her seventh goal of the season into the top right corner. It was her fourth game winning goal of the season.
- Senior Marissa Graziano tested the opposing goalkeeper early, recording two accurate shots on target.
- Hegazi provided her third assist of the season for game-winning goal off a set-piece sequence.
TEAM STATS
- The Gaels' defense and Kalbuagh combined for 10 saves compared to two stops for the Saints
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona registered its first win over Siena since a 1-0 victory at Mazzella Field back on October 19, 2013.
- The Gaels picked up the first road victory over the Saints since October 22, 2000, a 1-0 win at Hickey Field.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to Mazzella Field on Saturday, October 31 for the final home game of the season when they to welcome Sacred Heart for a noon contest.
