Oct. 23, 2011

Final Stats

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Katie Higgins scored on a header in the 102nd minute as Iona topped the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team, 1-0, in double overtime on Sunday afternoon in New Rochelle, N.Y.

It was the third-straight overtime game for the Greyhounds, marking the fourth time in Loyola history that the team has played three or more overtime games in a row.

The Greyhounds (5-11-1, 3-3-1 MAAC) fell to 0-2-1 in extra sessions this season.

Sophomore keeper Didi Haracic made five saves in net and held a team scoreless in regulation for the third-straight match. Haracic has not allowed a goal in her last 310 minutes of regulation time and became the sixth keeper in Loyola history to notched 90-plus saves in a season.

Iona (5-9-3, 4-2-1 MAAC) keeper Trista Rivera notched the shutout while making four saves in the contest.

The match was evenly played throughout, with Loyola finishing with a 14-13 advantage and shots and each team recording five corner kicks.

Jenny Thornton led the Greyhounds with four shots. Thornton, Nichole Schiro, Joe McLaughlin and Tessa McClenahan each had shots on goal in the contest.

McClenahan's shot came on a header in the first half that tested Rivera, but the Iona keeper was able to make the stop as the two sides went into the halftime break scoreless.

Each team had opportunities in the second half, recording seven shots apiece in the final 45 minutes, but neither side was able to gain an advantage as they went into overtime knotted at, 0-0.

It was the third-straight match for Loyola where neither team was able to score during regulation, the longest such stretch in program history.

Loyola recorded the only two shots of the first extra session. Freshman Gabrielle Tana put a try just wide of the net while Thornton had a scoring opportunity stopped by Rivera.

The Gaels were able to get the game-winner early in the second overtime off a corner kick. Safi Ayinde delivered the kick that found the head of Higgins and beat Haracic into the back of the net for her first goal of the season and gave Iona the, 1-0, victory.

The Greyhounds sit behind Fairfield (11 points) and Canisius (10 points) for the fourth and final final spot in the MAAC Championship heading into the final two matches of the regular-season. Marist (19 points) clinched the No. 1 seed while Niagara and Iona are tied with 13 points each.

Loyola returns home to conclude regular-season play against Manhattan on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saint Peter's Sunday at 1 p.m.