NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College women’s soccer program picked up its first point of the 2016 season Sunday afternoon, drawing with Yale, 1-1. Junior Mariana Jaramillo netted the goal for the Gaels, and junior goalkeeper Tiffany Martinez was tremendous, making 13 saves over the course of 110 minutes.
The opening portion of the game saw little in terms of offensive chances, but the Gaels dominated the pace of play by successfully pushing the Bulldog defense back with counter-attack opportunities.
The constant threat would lead to an Iona score in the 17th minute. Junior defender Christine Rebus applied pressure by attempting a shot that was blocked by the Yale defense, but the rebound fell to Jaramillo netted her first of the season and gave the Gaels an early 1-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs responded by sending their attack forward. Martinez was dynamite in the first half for the Gaels, making five saves, including a pair of dangerous fast break chances. Martinez was on her heels in the 35th minute when she was cornered into making four saves within a three-minute stretch.
Iona was outshot in the first half 10-2, and the Bulldogs held an edge in corner kick opportunities, 3-0.
The second half was a blitzkrieg of Yale offense. Coming out of the locker room, the home team fired 14 shots in the second half, forcing Martinez to make six saves. In the 66th minute, juniors Carlin Hudson, Kristina Kim and sophomore Keri Cavallo each had an attempt on net, but the Maroon & Gold defense survived the siege with a team block and couple of saves by their net minder.
Yale wouldn’t test Martinez for the next 20 minutes until freshman forward Aerial Chavarin tied the score by tucking in a grounded shot to the nearside post on the right side. The goal came in the 88th minute.
At the end of regulation, the Bulldogs had outshot the Gaels 25-2. Iona did not have a corner kick opportunity till the first overtime period while the Bulldogs totaled 10 chances.
Just a few moments into the extra time, Martinez made one of her many clutch saves off an attempt from Alozie. Iona got its first corner kick chance five minutes in, but no threat arose from the attempt.
Yale had four shots in the latter overtime period, two of which were stopped by Martinez.
Chavarin and Cavallo combined for a 10 shots, one third of the Bulldogs’ total, including seven on net.
The Maroon & Gold return to action on Thursday, Sept. 8 against neighborhood rival Fordham. Kickoff from the Bronx is scheduled for 7:00 PM.