NEW ROCHELLE, NY —The Iona University women's soccer team jumped out to a fast start on Senior Day at Mazzella Field on Saturday morning, using a two-goal surge late in the first half to secure a 2-1 victory over Merrimack. The Gaels dictated the terms early, locking down defensively after the break to handle the Warriors' second-half push and collect a valuable first Metro Conference win on home turf.
Prior to the game, Iona recognized its senior class of 2027 in a special pregame Senior Day ceremony. The Gaels honored nine seniors:
Isabella DeGiovanni,
Savannah Rogers,
Camille Daniel,
Daija Jones,
Kara Canetti,
Marissa Graziano,
Victoria Ryan,
Molly Marcuss and
Morgan Lopez.
THE RUNDOWN
The opening half an hour featured tight tactical battles across the pitch, but the Maroon & Gold broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when sophomore
Ava Barker found the back of the net off a clean throw in from senior
Camille Daniel. Riding that sudden momentum, Iona struck again just 76 seconds later. Sophomore
Dolene Smith capitalized on a key delivery from a free kick by classmate
Sammie Misiolek in the 34th minute, burying her fifth goal of the campaign to double the lead before halftime.
Merrimack brought increased urgency to the second half, cutting the deficit to 2-1 in the 66th minute. However, the Gaels held firm through the final whistle to close out the win.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Barker sparked the offense by taking full advantage of her opportunity in the 33rd minute, putting away her first goal of the season.
- Smith remained a dynamic threat in the attack, netting her fifth goal of the year with a swift strike that provided the ultimate game-winner.
- Daniel delivered her second assist of the season on senior day.
- Misiolek registered her first collegiate assist on the game winning goal
- DeGiovanni got the start in goal making three saves, Rogers and Kalbaugh both recorded two saves apiece for Iona.
THE OPPONENT
- Isabella Keogh kept Merrimack within striking distance during the second half, recording her fourth goal of the season in four shots.
- Liv Campbell created space in the attacking third to feed Keogh for the Warriors' lone goal of the contest.
TEAM STATS
- The visitors held a 17-9 advantage in overall shots, but the home side made their attempts count by putting seven of their nine total shots on frame.
- Goalkeeping proved pivotal for the Gaels, who recorded seven total saves across 90 minutes to blunt a persistent road attack.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- The victory moves the squad to 4-2-2 overall and 1-1-1 in Metro Conference play on the season.
- Smith continues her strong offensive output, bringing her team-leading total to five goals on the year and netted her third game winning tally of the season.
- The Gaels remain tough to beat on Mazzella Field improving to 3-0-2 on the season. Iona capitalized on home-field advantage to secure three vital points in the league standings.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to action on Wednesday, September 23, when they hit the road to take on Metro rival Fairfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Lessing Field.
