Iona and Army Play to 1-1 Draw on Wednesday

October 4, 2019

WEST POINT, NY – The Iona College women's soccer team and the Army West Point Black Knights played to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night. Amber Crispin scored her the Gaels' only goal of the night on a penalty kick, the 12^thof her career, moving her into a tie for seventh place in program history.

GAME SUMMARY

The match started out very physical between both sides, and that trend continued on all the way through the conclusion of the second overtime. The first shot of the match came in the 11^thminute by Army; Iona didn't register its first shot until over 20 minutes into play.

Iona's best scoring chance of the first half came off of the foot of freshman Samantha Hogan. A good through ball up the right side of the pitch allowed the rookie enough space to try a shot, but the ball ricocheted off the right post as she tried to beat the keeper on the near side.

The two sides continued to duke it out for the first 45 minutes, but neither could find a goal despite some good scoring chances. Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Havrilla played great in net for the Maroon & Gold, making three stops in the first half.

The most crucial of the three came in the final minute of the period; the Black Knights controlled the ball in Iona's half of the pitch and had two chances from in close. Havrilla made a spectacular save and directed the one-time shot away from the danger zone in front of the cage, allowing the clock to run out without another shot being taken.

Faith Preziosi had the first shot on goal of the second half, but it was Alyssa Carfagno who would find the first goal. She snuck a shot around Havrilla on the right side to give the Black Knights the advantage.

In the 68^thminute, Preziosi drew a foul inside the box, granting Iona its first penalty kick try this season. Crispin handled it for the Maroon & Gold, finding the bottom-right corner of the net to tie the match just seven minutes after Army had taken the lead.

The Gaels did not record a shot after Crispin's PK goal. The Black Knights tried five, but Havrilla continued to play on her head, stopping all three tries sent her direction. The two sides ended regulation tied at one apiece and headed towards extra time.

Neither Iona nor Army mustered much in the first overtime period. The two sides each put a shot on goal in a one-minute span, but both goaltenders made the stop.

Army had the only two statistical chances in the second overtime; Havrilla made saves on both of those tries. The Black Knights had a plethora of chances, but Iona held strong on its backline and cleared most of the crosses towards the box. Despite controlling much of the second-overtime possession, Army could not score the golden goal and the match ended in a draw.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

Crispin's PK goal was her second of the season and the 12^thof her career. That mark moves her up to a tie for seventh place in program history in that category.
Havrilla made a season-high nine saves in net for Iona. Her previous best was eight against Northern Arizona.
The two teams tied for the first time in series history.
Army and Iona combined to commit 30 fouls in the match. The Black Knights were called for 20 of the 30 total offenses.
The Maroon & Gold were out-shot 14-6. Four of Iona's six tries were on net.
Army had eight corners in the match, five of which came in the second half.
Mackenzie Meixner, Taylor D'Alessandro and Havrilla played all 110 minutes for the Gaels.

UP NEXT

Iona will play at Wagner on Sunday night. Kick-off between the Gaels and the Seahawks is scheduled for 7 PM.

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