Three Gaels Score; Plourde Earns First Win

September 3, 2019

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College women's soccer team defeated St. Bonaventure 3-1 on Monday afternoon. Head coach Todd Plourde saw Amber Crispin, Samantha Hogan and Faith Preziosi all notch goals en route to his first career win at the helm of the program.

GAME SUMMARY

After an uneventful first 15 minutes of play, St. Bonaventure lined up for its second corner kick try of the afternoon. The Bonnies' Bella May guided a ball into the back of the net from the near corner, getting credit for her second goal of the season and giving her squad a 1-0 lead.

Iona did not register a shot until the 40^thminute of action. Freshman Sofia Giamanco had her try blocked by a defender in front, but the ball bounded out towards Crispin who put one past the keeper and evened the score at 1-1. Mariah Elsenheimer and Sofia Giamanco got credit for the assist.

The Maroon & Gold would get off one more shot, and St. Bonaventure had a corner kick in the final minute of play, but neither team could do anything with it. The Gaels and the Bonnies entered halftime deadlocked at one.

Hogan would find the eventual game-winning score in the 61^stminute, as a cross from senior Ciara Guglielmo bounced into the body of Hogan and to the back of the cage. The goal was the first of Hogan's career and gave the Gaels a lead for the first time in the match. Angelina DeCicco, who took over for Emma Havrilla in net, made her only save of the day amongst a bunch of Bonnies in the box with just under 30 minutes to play.

10 minutes later, Guglielmo fed a pass down the far sideline to a streaking Preziosi. After a couple of nifty moves, Preziosi fired a left-foot shot into the back of the net and extended Iona's lead to 3-1.

The Gaels' defensive pressure intensified and they held tight throughout the remainder of the game, locking down the team's first win of 2019.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

Iona's win is the first of the season and the first of Plourde's career.
Hogan's goal was the first of her collegiate career.
Preziosi had a season-high three points, adding an assist as well.
Crispin's goal opened the scoring for Iona; it was the first of 2019 for the senior and the 11^thof her career.
Guglielmo logged 41 minutes and notched two assists.
Giamanco and Elsenheimer got credit for assists on Iona's first goal of the afternoon; it was the first assist of Giamanco's career.
Havrilla played the first half and was replaced by DeCicco, who shutout the Bonnies in the second half. It was the first career appearance for the junior, as well as the first win of her career.
The Maroon & Gold dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 61% of the match.
The Bonnies out shot the Gaels 12-8, but Iona held the edge in shots on goal (4-2) despite less chances.
Neither goalkeeper made a save in the first half. Each tender made one stop in the second half.

UP NEXT

Iona will travel to play CCSU on Thursday night. The game will begin at 7 PM.

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