NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College women's soccer team earned its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win of the season on Wednesday afternoon, 3-2. The Gaels put forth their best offensive effort of the season to pick up their first home win of the season.

Additionally, The Maroon & Gold celebrated Mental Health Awareness Day at Mazzella as part of a Student Athlete Advisory Comittee initiative.

GAME SUMMARY

Junior Amber Crispin scored two goals for Iona in the opening three minutes of the game, both assisted by freshman Andrea Ferrer. The first came 69 seconds into the match. Ferrer took a shot from 25 yards out that lofted over Fairfield's aggressive keeper and hit the crossbar. Crispin was there to clean up the mess for her first of the game.
 
In the 3', Crispin and Ferrer connected again to give the Maroon & Gold a 2-0 lead. The Barcelona, Spain native took a pass at midfield and pushed it down the right sideline to the streaking Crispin. She took in the pass and was able to get position on Fairfield defender enough to have a clear path at goal. Crispin buried a line drive into the left netting for her fifth of the season.
 
The Stags got back to within one in the 9'. Gabby Diodati took a free kick from five yards outside the box and placed a cross toward the right post. Iona's keeper Emma Havrillawas coming out to punch it away but Stags forward Liz Dumas streaked in to head one home for her third goal of the season.
 
The Gaels regained momentum in the 12' with Ferrer and Crispin connecting for a third time. This time around it was the rookie who rattled the nylon off an assist from her junior cohort. Again using the right side, Crispin took it from 30 yards out and dribbled in towards the box, drawing multiple defenders around her. Ferrer was able to slide into a dangerous shooting area and convert a grounded pass from Crispin to make the scoreboard read 3-1 in Iona's favor.
 
Fairfield nearly got the deficit back to one in the 20'. Diodati took a free kick from inches outside the box that careened off the crossbar into a scuffle in the box. Amidst the chaos, Dumas got a shot off that would have gone home if it wasn't for Crispin who deflected it away at the near post.
 
Each team finished the first half with seven shots. Iona had a 4-3 shots on goal edge. The Stags were called for offside five times in the first half.
 
Havrilla was the savoir for the Maroon & Gold in the second half. She made five saves in the second, the majority of which were in high pressure situations. 
 
Fairfield standout forward Alex Madden fired one of her four shots on net in the 60'. Havrilla made the save and had to scramble to prevent Stephanie Tsangarie's second chance from going home. The Northport, NY native then have up huge in the 83' with a nasty foot save on a one-on-one opportunity with Madden.
 
The Stags forward did eventually put home a goal in the 89' to make the score 3-2. Madden now has 10 goals on the season.
 
Junior Ciara Guglielmo was Iona's most potent attacker in the second half with three shots on goal.
 
Fairfield finished the game with an 18-15 shot advantage and 9-8 edge regarding shots on goal. The Gaels did not have a single offside called against them while the Stags amassed seven.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Crispin's two goals gives her five on the season. She is tied for the team lead with freshman Faith Preziosi. Both Crispin and Preziosi had 21 shots on the season.
• Ferrer's goal was the first of the season. Her two assists were also her first two helpers of the season. Ferrerr is tied for second on the team in assists with Crispin.
• Iona's nine points as a team is its highest point total this season. The previous high was eight in the season-opener against Sacred Heart (Aug. 17). In both games they had a season-best three games.
• Iona's 15 shots are the second-highest total this season. Its season-high was 18 at Canisius (Sept. 29).
• Wednesday was the second straight time the Maroon & Gold bested Fairfield. Iona took down Fairfield in the first round of the 2017 MAAC Championship.

UP NEXT

Iona's has a week off before its next game. The Gaels host the Manhattan Jaspers on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 3 PM. It is senior day for the Maroon & Gold. Prior to the game, head coach John Stalzer and the program will honor Sara Mangialardi, Corinne Burns, Mariana Jaramillo and Megan Wood.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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