RIVERDALE, NY – The Iona College women's soccer team allowed three goals in the second half on Wednesday night, falling to Manhattan by a score of 4-1. Freshman Kiera Haggerty scored the first goal of her collegiate career, a blast from 35 yards out to tie the match.

MATCH SUMMARY

Iona came out firing to open the match, registering two shots in the first five minutes. Ciara Guglielmo's shot was off-target, but Andrea Ferrer's long-range shot required a save. 
 
Eve Montgomery put a shot on net that was stopped by Emma Havrilla in the 15th minute, the Jaspers' first of the match. From that point on, the Maroon & Gold let off four shots in an eight-minute span, but had nothing to show for it.
 
Iona was called for a handball in the box in the 24th minute, which led to a penalty kick goal for Arianna Montefusco. Havrilla managed to guess the correct direction of the PK try, but could not extend enough to make the save.
 
The Gaels continued their onslaught of shots following the Jasper goal. It finally paid off in the closing minutes of the half when Haggerty's blast from 35 yards out found the back of the net. The goal tied the match at one apiece.
 
The two sides entered halftime tied at 1-1, but Manhattan would pounce on Iona in the opening minutes of the second half. Two goals for the Jaspers in a 56-second span created a 3-1 hole that the Gaels were forced to try and dig out of. 
 
Guglielmo tried shots in the 51st and 53rd minutes but neither made their way on net. Haggerty recorded two shots of her own followed by a pair of tries from Amber Crispin, but the Gaels could still come up with nothing. 
 
The Gaels best second-half opportunity came on a corner kick at the 71-minute mark; Haggerty placed the ball in the box where teammates Katie Bensonand Sofia Giamanco put shots on goal, but Manhattan held tough in its defensive zone. Giamanco had the initial shot but it was saved by the keeper. Benson's rebound chance was stopped by a defender in front, which bounded out towards Giamanco and her bicycle-kick shot was off-line.
 
The Jaspers would put the finishing touches on the match with another goal late in the match.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Haggerty's goal was the first of her collegiate career. She is now the third different freshman to register a goal this season for the Maroon & Gold.
• Iona outshot Manhattan 27-10. The Gaels had more shots on goal (12) than the Jaspers had in total.
• The 27-shot night is the most in program history since Iona tried 32 shots at Saint Peter's on September 24, 2016. That is also the last time the Gaels registered more than 12 shots on goal.
• 10 different Gaels registered at least one shot on net in the loss. Crispin, Giamanco and Guglielmo were responsible for a team-high four shots each.
• The Jasper goalkeepers combined to make 10 saves in the victory. Manhattan made one save as a team.

UP NEXT

Iona returns home to face Saint Peter's on Saturday, October 12. The match will begin at 11:00 AM and will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona College athletics and women's soccer on all social media platforms: 
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (E-Mail Updates) 
Iona Women's Soccer: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (E-Mail Updates)