NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Very early in her career, freshman Aerial Chavarin is making a habit of scoring important goals.

She tallied the game-winner late in Yale’s season-opening 2-1 victory over Bryant, and on Sunday her goal with 4:43 left in the second half earned the Bulldogs a 1-1 tie with Iona on a sunny but breezy afternoon at Reese Stadium.

Yale deserved a better result. The Bulldogs completely dominated play, outshooting Iona 30-3.

The Gaels, though, capitalized on their one opportunity at the 17-mark of the first half, and Yale was forced to play catch up.

“We had to chase the game and that puts everybody under more pressure,” said Yale head coach Rudy Meredith. “We have to start games a little better. I thought in the second half we were much better, but unfortunately we weren’t able to get a second goal.”

Mariana Jaramillo scored at 16:47 to give Iona a 1-0 lead. Jaramillo lofted a shot into the top of the goal from 25 yards out after she corralled the deflection from a Christine’s Rebus shot that was blocked by the Yale defense.

Those were the only two shots the Gaels would have in regulation play.

The Bulldogs kept pressuring and pressuring and pressuring but couldn’t get the equalizer.

Finally, with under five minutes left, Chavarin struck. She settled a long forward ball from Keri Cavallo and slid a shot past Iona goalkeeper Tiffany Martinez at 86:17.

The Bulldogs did have to withstand an anxious moment at the end of regulation when Iona briefly appeared to score. The play, though, was ruled off sides, and the ball likely crossed the goal line after the horn as well.

Yale then went back to controlling play in the two 10-minute overtime periods and nearly won it in the final seconds. Carlin Hudson got off a good shot from right in front with under 30 seconds left, but it was cleared away by an Iona defender. The rebound came to Sarah McCauley, but her header went just over the cross bar.

Martinez was excellent in goal for the Gaels, finishing with 13 saves.

Yale (3-1-1) played three goalkeepers – Maritza Grillo, Alyssa Fagel and Jane Buckley - and only Buckley was forced to make a save.

After playing five games in the first 10 days of the season, the Bulldogs now get a bit of a break before hosting Colgate on Friday.

“We haven’t really had a real practice in two weeks,” Meredith said. “Hopefully we will have a good week and get ready to face a good Colgate team.”

Kickoff against the Red Raiders is slated for 7 p.m.